Source: Tyndale House Publishers Inc.
Genesis 3:1 Disguised as a shrewd serpent, Satan came to tempt Eve, At one time, Satan had been a glorious angel. But in pride, he rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven. As a created being, Satan has definite limitations. Although he is trying to tempt everyone away from God, he will not be the final victor. In Genesis 3:14-15, God promises that Satan will be crushed by one of the woman’s offspring, the Messiah.
Genesis 3:1-6 Why does Satan tempt us? Temptation is Satan’s invitation to give in to his kind of life and give up on God’s kind of life. Satan tempted Eve and succeeded in getting her to sin. Ever since then, he’s been busy trying to get people to sin. He even tempted Jesus (Matt 4:1-11), but Jesus did not sin!
How could Eve have resisted temptation? By following the same guidelines we can follow. First, we must realize that being tempted is not a sin. We have not sinned until we give in to the temptation. Second, to resist temptation, we must pray for strength to resist, run from it (sometimes literally), and say no when confronted with what we know is wrong. James 1:12 tells of the blessings and rewards for those who don’t give in when tempted.
Genesis 3:1-6 The serpent, Satan, tempted Eve by getting her to doubt God’s goodness. He implied that God was strict, stingy, and selfish for not wanting Eve to share his knowledge of good and evil. Satan made Eve forget all that God had given her and, instead, focus on what God had forbidden. we fall into trouble, too, when we dwell on what God forbids rather than on the countless blessings and promises God has given us. The next time you are feeling sorry for yourself because of what you don’t have, consider all that you do have and thank God. Then your doubts won’t lead you into sin.
Genesis 3:5 Adam and Eve got what they wanted: an intimate knowledge of both good and evil. But they got it by disobeying God, and the results were disastrous. Sometimes we have the illusion that freedom is doing anything we want. But God says that true freedom comes from obedience and knowing what not to do. The restrictions he gives us are for our good, helping us avoid evil. We have the freedom to walk in front of a speeding car, but we don’t need to be hit to realize it would be foolish to do so. Don’t listen to Satan’s temptations. You don’t have to do evil to gain more experience and learn more about life.
Genesis 3:5 Satan used a sincere motive to tempt Eve: “You will be like God.” It wasn’t wrong of Eve to want to be like God. To become more like God is humanity’s highest goal. It is what we are supposed to do. But Satan misled Eve concerning the right way to accomplish this goal. He told her that she could become more like God by defying God’s authority, by taking God’s place and deciding for herself what was best for her life. In effect, he told her to become her won god.
To become like God is not the same as trying to become God. Rather, it is to reflect his characteristics and to recognize his authority over our lives. Like Eve, we often have a worthy goal but try to achieve it the wrong way. We act like a political candidate who pays off an election judge to be “voted” into office; serving the people is no longer his highest goal.
Self-exaltation leads to rebellion against God. As soon as we begin to leave God out of our plans, we are placing ourselves above him. This is exactly what Satan wants us to do.
Genesis 3:14-19 Adam and Eve learned by painful experience that because God is holy and hates sin, he must punish sinners. The rest of the book of Genesis recounts painful stories of lives ruined as a result of the Fall. Disobedience is sin, and it breaks our fellowship with God. But unfortunately, God is willing to forgive us and to restore our relationship with him when we admit our sin.
Genesis 3:15 Satan is our enemy. He will do anything he can to get us to follow his evil, deadly path. The phrase “you will strike his heel” refers to Satan’s repeated attempts to defeat Christ during his life on earth. “He will strike your head” foreshadows Satan’s defeat when Christ rose from the dead. A strike on the heel is not deadly, but a blow to the head is. Already God was revealing his plan to defeat Satan and offer salvation to the world through his Son, Jesus Christ.
Leviticus 23:1-4 God established several national holidays each year for celebration, fellowship, and worship. Much can be learned about people by observing the holidays they celebrate and the way they celebrate them. Take note of your holiday traditions. What do they say about your values? In what ways do your celebrations and holidays reflect your relationship with God?
Ecclesiastes 9:5,10 When Solomon says the dead know nothing and that there is no work, planning, knowledge, or wisdom after death, he is not contrasting life with afterlife, but life with death. After you die, you can’t change what you have done. Resurrection to a new life after death was a vague concept for Old Testament believers. It was only made clear after Jesus rose from the dead.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 In his conclusion, Solomon presents his antidotes for the two main ailments presented in this book. Those who lack purpose and direction in life should fear God and obey his commands. Those who think life is unfair should remember that God will review every person’s life to determine how that individual has responded to him, and he will bring every deed into judgment. Have you committed your life to God? Does your life measure up to his standards?
The book of Ecclesiastes cannot be interpreted correctly without reading these final verses. No matter what the mysteries and apparent contradictions of life are, we must work toward the single purpose of knowing God.
In Ecclesiastes, Solomon shows us that we should enjoy life, but this does not exempt us from obeying God’s commands. We should search for purpose and meaning in life, but these cannot be found in human endeavors. We should acknowledge the evil, foolishness, and injustice in life yet maintain a positive attitude and strong faith in God. All people will have to stand before God and be judged for what they have done in this life. We will not be able to use the inequities of life as an excuse for failing to live properly. We need to: recognize that human effort apart from God is futile, put God first now, receive everything good as a gift from God, and realize that God will judge every person’s life, whether good or evil. How strange that people spend their lives striving for the joy that God gives freely.
Isa 8:16 Because some people faithfully preserved the teaching of God and passed on these words from generation to generation, we have the book of Isaiah today. Each of us needs to accept the responsibility to pass on God’s Word to our children and grandchildren, encouraging them to love the Bible, read it, and learn from it. Then they will faithfully pass it on to their children and grandchildren.
Isa 8:17 Isaiah decided to wait for the Lord, though God had “turned away from” the people of Israel. For some believers, patient waiting becomes the most difficult testing they must face: waiting for illness to pass, for a child to return to God and the church, or for God to make matters right in a particular situation. Many of the prophecies God gave through the prophets would not come true for 700 years; others still haven’t been fulfilled in our lifetime. Are you willing to accept the Lord’s timing, not yours?
Isa 8:19 The people would consult mediums and psychics, seeking answers from dead people instead of consulting the living God. God alone knows the future, and only he is eternal. We can trust God to guide us.
Isa 8:21 After rejecting God’s plan for them, the people of Judah would blame God for their trials. People continually blame God for their self-induced problems.
How do you respond to the unpleasant results of your own choices? Where do you fix the blame? Instead of blaming God, look for ways to grow through your bad choices and failures.
Isa 14:12 “Shining star, son of the morning” could be names used to worship the kings of Assyria and Babylon. More likely, it means that they will fade like the morning star when the sun rises.
Isa 14:12-14 There are several interpretations for the fallen one in these verses.
(1) He is Satan, because the person here is too powerful to be any human king. Although Satan may fit verses 12-14, he does not fit well with the rest of the chapter.
(2) This could be Sennacherib or Nebuchadnezzar, kings with supreme power. Their people looked upon them as gods. These kings wanted to rule the world.
(3) This could refer both Satan and a great human king, possibly Nebuchadnezzar, because Babylon is pictured as the seat of evil in Revelation 17-18. Pride was Satan’s sin as well as Babylon’s. Common to all three viewpoints is the truth that pride willfully opposes God and will result in judgment. Israel made the mistake of being too proud to depend on God, and we are vulnerable to that same mistake.
Isa 56:2 God commanded his people to rest and honor him on the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8-11). He wants us to serve him every day, but he wants us to make one day special when we rest and focus our thoughts on him. For the Israelites, this special day was the Sabbath (Saturday). Some Christians set Saturday aside as this special day, but many accept Sunday (the day of the week that Jesus rose from the dead) as the “Lord’s Day”, a day of rest and honor to God. Do you make Sunday special?
Isa 66:15-17 This is a vivid picture of the great judgment that will occur at Christ’s second coming (2 Thes 1:7-9).
Ezek 3:17-18 A watchman’s job was to stand on the city wall and warn the people of approaching danger. Ezekiel’s role was to be a spiritual watchman, warning the people of the judgment to come. Some think that the phrase “I will hold you responsible for their deaths” means that just as a watchman on the wall would pay with his life if he refused to warn the people of coming judgment. Others believe this phrase simply means that God would hold Ezekiel accountable.
Ezek 3:18-19 God had already told Ezekiel that the people would not listen, so why should he bother to tell them God’s message? God wanted the people to know they had been warned. Ezekiel’s job was to obey God. We are responsible to tell others about God’s judgment and his message of salvation, although we are not held responsible for how they respond. If we refuse to tell others what we know, God will judge us. Remember God’s words to Ezekiel when you are tempted to remain silent among those who don’t believe.
Ezek 3:18-21 In these verses, God is not talking about loss of salvation but rather about physical death. If the people back in Judah continued in their sins, they and their land and cities would be destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar’s armies. If, on the other hand, the people would turn to God, God would spare them. God would hold Ezekiel responsible for his fellow Jews if he failed to warn them of the consequences of their sins. All people are individually responsible to God, but believers have a special responsibility to warn unbelievers of the consequences of rejecting God. If we fail to do this, God will hold us responsible for what happens to them. This should motivate us to begin sharing our faith with others in word and deed and to avoid becoming callous or unconcerned in our attitude.
Ezek 3:23 Ezekiel recognized his helplessness before God and fell face down in his presence. Sometimes our prosperity, popularity, or physical strength blinds us to our spiritual helplessness. But nothing we do on our own can accomplish much for God. Only when God is in control of our wills can we accomplish great tasks for him. The first step to being God’s person is to admit that you need his help; then you can begin to see what God can really do in your life.
Ezek 3:24-27 Ezekiel was allowed to speak only when God had a message for the people. Thus, the people knew that whatever Ezekiel said was God’s message. They did not have to wonder whether Ezekiel was speaking by God’s authority or his own.
Ezek 20:12-13 The Sabbath, instituted by God at creation, was entrusted to Israel as a sign that God has created and redeemed them (Exodus 20:8-11; Deut 5:12-15). This day of rest was a gift from a loving God, not a difficult obligation. But the people repeatedly violated the Sabbath and ignored God (see also Ezek 20:20-21). It was meant to be a reminder that they were God’s special people. Today many Christians celebrate the Lord’s day, Sunday, as their Sabbath. Whatever the day, we must be careful to fulfill God’s purpose for the Sabbath. He wants us to rest, to refocus, and to remember him.
Ezek 22:26 The priests were supposed to keep God’s worship pure and teach the people right living. But the worship of God had become commonplace to them; they ignored the Sabbath, and they refused to teach the people. They no longer carried out their God-given duties(Lev 10:10-11; Ezek 44:23). When doing God’s work becomes no more important than any mundane task, we are no longer giving God the reverence he deserves. Instead of bringing God down to our sinful human level, we should live on ways that reflect his holiness.
Ezek 28:12-19 Some of phrases in this passage describing the human king of Tyre may also describe the human king of Tyre may also describe Satan. Great care must be taken to interpret these verses with discern-ment. It is clear that at times Ezekiel describes this king in terms that could not apply to a mere human. This king had been in the Garden of Eden (Ezek 28:13), had been “ordained and anointed … as the mighty angelic guardian” (Ezek 28:14), and had access to the holy mountain of God (Ezek 28:14), but was banished from there (Ezek 28:16-17). Ezekiel, therefore may have been condemning not only the king of Tyre but Satan as well, who had motivated the king to sin.
Ezek 36:25-27 God promised to restore Israel not only physically but spiritually. To accomplish this, God would give them a new heart for following him and put his Spirit within them (see Ezek 11:19-20; Ps 51:7-11) to transform them and empower them to do his will. Again God promised the new covenant (see Ezek 16:61-63; 34:23-25), ultimately to be fulfilled in Christ. No matter how impure your life is right now, God offers you a fresh start. You can have your sins washed away, receive a new heart for God, and have his Spirit within you – if you accept God’s promise. Why try to patch up your old life when you can have a new one?
Ezek 44:20-31 These laws were originally given to God’s people in the wilderness. They are recorded in the books of Exodus and Leviticus. They reveal the importance of approaching God respectfully, and they give guidelines for the priests to live above reproach so they could carry out their responsibility to teach the people “the difference between what is holy and what is common, what is ceremonially clean and unclean” (Ezek 44:23).
Dan 2:1-11 Dreams were considered to be messages from the gods, and the astrologers were expected to interpret them. Usually the astrologers could give some sort of interpretation as long as they knew what the dream was about. But this time Nebuchadnezzar demanded to be told the dream also. God sent a series of dreams to Nebuchadnezzar with prophetic messages that could be revealed and understood only by a servant of God. People from other time periods who received dreams from God include Jacob (Gen 28:10-15), Joseph (Gen 37:5-11), Pharaoh’s cup-bearer and his baker (Gen 40), Pharaoh (Gen 41), Solomon (1 Kgs 3:5-15), and Joseph (Matt 1:20-24).
Dan 2:10-11 The astrologers told the king that “no one on earth” could know the dreams of another person. What the king asked was humanly impossible. But Daniel could tell what the king had dreamed, and he could also give the interpretation because God was working through him. In daily life, we face many apparently impossible situations that would be hopeless if we had to handle them with our limited strength. But God specializes in working through us to achieve the impossible.
Dan 2:10-11 The astrologers were unable to persuade the king with any amount of logic or rational argument. The king asked for something impossible and didn’t want any one to change his mind. When power goes to a leader’s head, whether at work, at home, or in the church, that leader may sometimes demand the impossible from subordinates. At times, he may motivate workers to achieve more that they thought they could. At other times, they may ignore his rantings and ravings. Just as Daniel dealt wisely in the situation, we can ask God to give us wisdom to know how to deal with unreasonable bosses.
Dan 2:11 The astrologers admitted that their gods did not “live are among people.” Of course their gods didn’t — they didn’t even exist! This exposed the limitations of the astrologers. They could invent interpretations of dream but could not tell Nebuchadnezzar what he had dreamed. Although his request was unreasonable, Nebuchadnezzar was infuriated by their reply. It was not unusual in these times for astrologers to be in conflict with the king. They sometimes used their craft to gain political power.
Dan 2:11 By answering that the gods “do not live here among people,” the astrologers betrayed their concept of the gods. Theirs was a hollow religion, a religion of convenience. They believed in the gods, but that belief made no difference in their conduct. Today, many people profess to believe in God, but it is also a hollow belief. In essence, they are practical atheists because they don’t listen to him or do what he says. Do you believe in God? He does live among people, and he wants to change your life.
Dan 2:16-18 Daniel was at a crisis point. Imagine going to see the powerful, temperamental king who had just angrily ordered your death! Daniel did not shrink back in fear but confidently believed God would tell him all the king wanted to know. When the king gave Daniel time to find the answer, Daniel found his three friends and they prayed. When you find yourself in a tight spot, share your needs with trusted friends who also believe in God’s power. Prayer is more effective than panic. Panic confirms your hopelessness; prayer confirms your hope in God. Daniel’s trust in God saved not only himself but also his three friends and all the other wise men of Babylon.
Dan 2:19-23 After Daniel asked God to reveal Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to him, he saw a vision of the dream. Daniel’s prayer was answered. Before rushing to Arioch with the news, Daniel took time to give God credit for all wisdom and power, thanking God for answering his request. How do you feel when your prayers are answered? Excited? Surprised? Relieved? There are times when we seek God in prayer and, after having been answered, dash off in our excitement, forgetting to give God credit for the answer. Match your persistence in prayer with gratitude when your requests are answered.
Dan 2:21 If you know that you still have much to learn in life, and if you have ever wished that you knew more about how to deal with people, then look to God for wisdom. While educational institutions provide diplomas at great expense, God gives wisdom freely to all who ask. (See Jas 1:5 for more on asking God for wisdom.)
Dan 2:21 When we see evil leaders who live long and good leaders who die young, we may wonder if God is still in control. Daniel saw evil rulers with almost limitless power, but he knew that God “removes kings and sets up other kings” and that he controls everything that happens. God governs the world according to his purposes. You may be dismayed when you see evil people prosper, but God is in control. Let this knowledge give you confidence and peace no matter what happens.
Dan 2:24 Daniel did not use his success to promote his own self-interest. He thought of others. When striving to succeed or survive, remember the needs of others.
Dan 2:27-30 Before Daniel told the king anything else, he gave credit to God, explaining that he did not know the dream through his own wisdom but only because God revealed it. How easily we take credit for what God does through us! This robs God of the honor that he alone deserves. Instead, we should be like Daniel and point people to God so that we give him glory.
Dan 2:31ff The head of gold on the statue in the dream represented Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of the Babylonian Empire. The silver chest and two arms represented the Medo-Persian Empire, which conquered Babylon in 539 B.C. The belly and thighs of bronze were Greece and Macedonia under Alexander the Great, who conquered the Medo-Persian Empire (334-330 B.C). The legs of iron represented Rome, which conquered the Greeks in 63 B.C. The feet of clay and iron represented the breakup of the Roman Empire, when the territory Rome ruled divided into a mixture of strong and weak nations. The type of metal in each part depicted the strength of the political power it represented. The rock cut out of the mountain depicted God’s Kingdom, which would be ruled eternally by the Messiah, the King of kings. The dream revealed Daniel’s God as the power behind all earthly kingdoms.
Dan 2:44 God’s Kingdom will never be destroyed. If you are upset by threats of war and the prosperity of evil leaders, remember that God, not world leaders, decides the outcome of history. Under God’s protection, God’s Kingdom is indestructible. Those who trust in God are members of his Kingdom and are secure in him.
Dan 2:47 Nebuchadnezzar honored Daniel and Daniel’s God. If Daniel had taken the credit himself, the king would have honored only Daniel. Because Daniel gave God the credit, the king honored both of them. Part if our mission in this world is to show unbelievers what God is like. We can do that by acts of love and compassion; and if we give God credit for our actions; they will want to know more about him. Give thanks to God for what he is doing in and through you.
Dan 2:49 After being named ruler over the whole province of Babylon and placed in charge of the wise men, Daniel requested that his companions, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, be appointed as his assistants. Daniel knew that he could not handle such an enormous responsibility without capable assistants, so he chose the best men he knew–his three Hebrew companions. A competent leader never does all the work alone but knows how to delegate and supervise. Moses, Israel’s greatest leader, shared the burden of administration with dozens of assistants. (See Exod 18:13-27)
Dan 7:1 The book of Daniel is not order chronologically; Daniel 7 takes place before Daniel 5. At this time, Belshazzar had just been given a position of authority (533 B.C.), and Daniel was probably in his late sixties. The first six chapters of Daniel present history; the last six chapters are visions relating mainly to the future.
Dan 7:1ff Daniel had a vision of four huge beasts, each representing a world empire. This was similar to Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Dan 2), which covered the political aspects of the empires; Daniel’s dream depicted their moral characteristics. These nations, which would reign over Israel, were evil and cruel; but Daniel also saw God’s everlasting, indestructible Kingdom arrive and conquered them all.
Dan 7:4-8 The lion with eagles’ wings represents Babylon with its swift conquests (statues of winged lions have been recovered from Babylon’s ruins). The bear that ravaged the lion is Medo-Persia. The three ribs in its mouth represent the conquests of three major enemies. The leopard is Greece. Its wings show the swiftness of Alexander the Great’s campaign as he conquered much of the civilized world in four years (334-330 B.C.). The leopard’s four heads are the four divisions of the Greek Empire after Alexander’s death.
The fourth beast points to both Rome and the end times. Many Bible scholars believe that the horns corresponds to 10 kings who will reign shortly before God sets up his everlasting Kingdom. These 10 kings had still not come to power at the time of John’s vision recorded in the book of Revelation (Rev 17:12). The little horn is a future human ruler or the Antichrist (see also 2 Thes 2:3-4). God is illustrating the final end of all worldly kingdoms in contrast to his eternal Kingdom.
Dan 7:7 In the book of Revelation, John also recorded a vision of a scarlet beast that had seven heads and ten horns (Rev 17:3). The angel told John that the ten horns were ten kings (Rev 17:12). Most likely these would be ten rulers who would rule under the Antichrist. The number ten may be literal; or more likely, it symbolizes the totality of the powers on earth that would serve the Antichrist and war against Christ. In John’s day, Rome was the world power, but would be followed by other powers. Whatever the identity of the ten kings, they would give their power to the Antichrist and make war against Christ and his followers.
Dan 7:9 Here the prophecy shifts to the end times. This judgment scene is similar to one that the apostle John saw (Rev 1:14-15). The Ancient One is almighty God, who assigns power to kingdoms and who will himself judge those kingdoms in the end.
Dan 7:10 The book of Revelation records a similar picture of God with angels surrounding his throne. John recorded that there were “thousands and millions” (Rev 5:11-12). On other words, angels too numerous to count surround God’s throne and minister to him. Created by God, angels are spiritual beings who help carry out his work on earth.
Dan 7:10 The phrase “the books were opened” refers to judgment. Revelation refers to this final judgment where the “books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books” (Rev 20:12). The Book of Life is the heavenly registry of those who have accepted Christ’s gift of salvation (Rev 3:5). All believers’ names are written in the Book of Life and they need not fear judgment. Unbelievers, however, will be judged according to their works, but their works, no matter how good, will not be able to save them.
Dan 7:10 Daniel saw God judging millions of people as they stand before him. We all must stand before almighty God and give an account of our lives. If God judged your life today, what would he say about it? How would he measure it against his will for you? We should live each day with the full awareness that we must appear before God to give account for how we used our life. How will your life measure up?
Dan 7:11-12 The slaying of the beast represents the fall of Rome. While this beast was destroyed, the other beast were allowed to live for a period of time. The kingdom (or their cultures) continued to be recognizable in some form; history did not end when God intervened with his judgment.
Dan 7:13-14 This one “like a son of man” is the Messiah. Jesus used this verse to refer to himself (Matt 26:64; Luke 21:27; John 1:51). The clouds of heaven portray the Son of Man as divine; throughout the Bible, clouds represent his majesty and awesome presence. God’s glory appeared in a cloud at the giving of the law at Sinai (Exod 16:10; 19:9). The book of Revelation also records Christ coming with the clouds of heaven (Rev 1:7).
Dan 7:18 The “holy people of the Most High” are the true Israel, the people ruled by the Messiah. Jesus Christ gave the Kingdom to the new Israel, his church, made up of all faithful believers. His coming ushered in the Kingdom of God, and all believers are its citizens (see also Dan 7:22,27). Although God may allow persecution to continue for a while, the destiny of his followers is to possess the Kingdom and be with him forever.
Dan 7:21-22 This “horn” that wages war against God’s people is also described in Revelation as the beast who is “allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them” (Rev 13:7). For a while, the “horn” will defeat God’s people. But in reality, those who die for the faith will be the ultimate overcomers, for they will receive great rewards. In the end, the Ancient One himself will defeat the horn.
Dan 7:24 The 10 horns, or 10 kings, are also mentioned in Revelation 17:12. There were also 10 toes in Nebuchadnezzar’s vision (Dan 2:41-42). While all do not agree concerning the identity of these 10 kings, they will make war against Christ (Rev 17:12-14), but as the King of kings, he will conquer them. The other king mentioned here is the future man of lawlessness (see 2 Thes 2:3-4).
Dan 7:25 The exact meaning of this “time, times, and half a time” is debated. Many scholars believe that
“time” means one year;
“times” means two years;
and “half a time” means half a year.
Thus, this would refer to three and a half years. God’s people will be placed under this king’s control and the persecution will continue only a relatively short time. God has promised to give his Kingdom to his holy people.
Dan 8:9 Antiochus IV Epiphanes (“the small horn”) attacked Israel (“the glorious land”) in the second century B.C. He was the eighth ruler of the Seleucid Empire (Babylonia and Syria). He overthrew Israel’s high priest, looted the Temple, and replaced worship of God with a Greek form of worship. A further fulfillment of this prophecy of a powerful horn would occur in the future with the coming of the Antichrist (see Dan 8:17, 19, 23; 11:36; 2 Thes 2:4).
Dan 8:14 The phrase “evenings and mornings” means evening and morning sacrifices; it refers to the time from the desecration of the altar in the Temple by Antiochus IV Epiphanes to the restoration of Temple worship under Judas Maccabeus in 165 B.C.
Dan 8:17 The “time of the end,” in this case, refers to the whole period from the end of the Exile until the second coming of Christ. Many of the events that would happen under Antiochus IV Epiphanes would be repeated on a broader scale just before Christ’s second coming, During these times, God deals with Israel in a radically different way, with divine discipline coming through Gentile nations. This time is sometimes referred to as the “period of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24).
Dan 8:23 This fierce king describes both Antiochus IV Epiphanes and the Antichrist at the end of human history (Rev 13:1-18)
Dan 9:24-25 Each day of these 70 weeks (“seventy sets of seven”) may represent one year. The Bible often uses round numbers to make a point, not to give an exact count. For example, Jesus said we are to forgive others “seventy times seven” (Matt 18:22). He did not mean a literal 490 times, but that we should forgive abundantly. Similarly, some scholars see this figure of 70 weeks as a figurative time period. Others interpret this time period as a literal 70 weeks or 490 years, observing that Christ’s death came at the end of the 69 weeks (i.e., 483 years later). One interpretation places the 70th week as the seven years of the Great Tribulation, still in the future. Consequently the number would symbolize both the first and second comings of Christ.
Dan 9:25 These “strong defenses” show that Jerusalem will be rebuilt as a complete fully functioning city.
Dan 9:26 The Messiah, the Anointed One, will be rejected and killed by his own people. His perfect, eternal Kingdom will come later.
Dan 9:26-27 There has been much discussion on the numbers, times, and events in these verses, and there are three basic views:
(1) The prophecy was fulfilled in the past at the desecration of the Temple by Antiochus IV Epiphanes in 168-167 B.C. (see Dan 11:31);
(2) it was fulfilled in the past at the destruction of the Temple by the Roman general Titus in A.D. 70 when one million Jews were killed; or
(3) it is still to be fulfilled in the future under the Antichrist (see Matt 24:15).
Dan 11:35 God’s messenger described a time of trial when even wise believers would fall victim to persecution. If we persevere in our faith, any such experience will only refine us and make us stronger. Are you facing trials? Recognize them as opportunities to strengthen your faith. If you remain steadfast in these experiences, you will be stronger in your faith and closer to God.
Dan 11:36-39 These verses could refer to Antiochus IV Epiphanes, Titus (the Roman general), or the Antichrist. Some of these events may have been fulfilled in the past, and some have yet to be fulfilled.
Dan 11:37 The “god loved by women” may refer to Tammuz, a Babylonian fertility god. Tammuz is also mentioned in Ezekiel 8:14. In other words, this person won’t recognize any deity or religions at all, not even pagan ones. Instead, he will proclaim himself to be divine and the ultimate power.
Dan 12:7 “Time, times, and half a time” may add up to three-and-a-half years and may be taken as either literal or figurative.
Dan 12:7 “The holy people” seem to be shattered again and again throughout history, God’s recurring purpose in this is to break the pride and self-sufficiency pf his rebellious people and to bring them to accept him as their Lord.
Zechariah 3:2 God punished Judah through the fire of great trials, but he rescued the nation before it was completely destroyed, like “a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire.”
Zechariah 3:2-4 Zechariah’s vision graphically portrays how we receive God’s mercy. We do nothing ourselves. God removes our filthy clothes (sins), then provides us with fine, new clothes (the righteousness and holiness of God; 2 Cor 5:21; Eph 4:24; Rev 19:8). All we need to do is repent and ask God to forgive us. When Satan tries to make you feel dirty and unworthy, remember that the clean clothes of Christ’s Righteousness make you worthy to draw near to God.
Zechariah 3:5-7 The Greek name for Jeshua is Jesus, meaning “the LORD SAVES.” He is seen here as a symbol of Jesus, the Messiah.
Zechariah 3:7-10 There was no priesthood during Exile, so it had to be reinstated upon the return to the land. In this vision, Jeshua is installed high priest. One of the high priest’s duties was to offer a sacrifice on the Day of Atonement to make amends for all the sins of the people. The priest was the mediator between God and the nation. Thus, he represented the coming Messiah (Isa 11:1), who would change the entire order of God’s dealing with people’s sin (Heb 10:8-14 explains this in detail). Jesus, the Messiah was the High Priest who offered, once for all, the sacrifice of himself to take away our sins. In the new order, every Christian is a priest, offering a holy, cleansed life to God (1 Peter 2:9; Rev 5:10).
Zechariah 3:8-9 The “Branch” refers to the Messiah. The meaning of the stone with seven facets is unclear. It could mean
(1) the Branch himself as the foundation stone of the Temple,
(2) the rock struck by Moses that produced water for the Israelites (Num 20:7-11), or
(3) the renewed spiritual priesthood of the church (1 Peter 2:5). These verses were fulfilled hundreds of years later by Jesus Christ. God said, “I will remove the sins of this land in a single day,” and this was fulfilled in Christ who “suffered for our sins once for all time . . . to bring you safely home to God” (1 Peter 3:18). You cannot remove your sins by your own effort. You must allow God to remove them through Christ.
Zechariah 3:10 God promises that each person will have their own place of security during Christ’s reign (see also Mic 4:4).
Zechariah 13:8-9 This “third” was a remnant, a small part of the whole. Throughout the history of Israel, whenever the whole nation seemed to turn against God, God said that a righteous remnant still trusted and followed him. These believers were refined like silver and gold through the fire of their difficult circumstances. Determine to be part of God’s remnant, that small part of the whole that is obedient to him. Obey God no matter what the rest of the world does. This may mean trials and troubles at times; but as fire purifies gold and silver, you will be purified and made more like Christ.
The Lord will Rule the Earth
Zechariah 14:1-21 This chapter portrays the eventual triumph of the Messiah over all the earth and his reign over God’s people. But the chronological order of these future events is not clear. They show that God has various ways of dealing with his people. Now we are to watch as the events unfold and God provides an escape for his people.
Zechariah 14:4 On the Mount of Olives, Jesus spoke with his disciples about the end times (Matt 24). Near this mountain, an angel promised that Jesus would return in the same manner as he had left (Acts 1:11; see also Ezek 11:23).
Zechariah 14:5 Only God’s people will escape God’s punishment (Matt 24:16-20). In this time of confusion, God will clearly know who his people are. (See the note on Amos 1:1, concerning the earthquake in King Uzziah’s day.)
Zechariah 14:10 Jerusalem is honored as the city of God and the focal point of all the world’s worship. Jerusalem’s elevation is a dramatic way of showing God’s supremacy.
Zechariah 14:16 This Festival of Shelters is the only festival still appropriate during the Messiah’s reign. The Passover was fulfilled in Christ’s death; the Day of Atonement, in acceptance of Christ’s salvation; the Festival of First Harvest, in his resurrection; and Pentecost, with the arrival of the Holy Spirit. But the Festival of Shelters, a festival of thanksgiving, celebrates the harvest of human souls for the Lord. Jesus may have alluded to it in John 4:35.
Zechariah 14:20-21 In the future, even such common objects as horses’ bells and cooking pots will be holy. This vision of a restored, holy Jerusalem stands in contrast to its broken walls and unpleasant living conditions. One day God would fulfill the people’s dreams for Jerusalem beyond what they could imagine. God wants to do much more for us than we can imagine (Eph 3:20). As we walk with him, we will discover this day by day.
Zechariah 14:21 Zechariah was speaking to a people who were enduring hardships: They were being harassed by neighbors; they were discouraged over their small numbers and seemingly inadequate Temple; and their worship was apathetic. But God said, “My love for Jerusalem and Mount Zion is passionate and strong” (Zech 1:14). He promised to restore their land, their city, and their Temple. Like other prophets, Zechariah blended prophecies of the present, near future, and final days into one sweeping panorama. Through his message we learn that our hope is found in God and his Messiah, who are in complete control of the world.