Immerse: Chronicles Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 189
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D aniel
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whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple. The end will come
with a flood, and war and its miseries are decreed from that time to the
very end. The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one
set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and
offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for this defiler
is finally poured out on him.”
In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia, Daniel (also known
as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future—times of war and great
hardship.
When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three
whole weeks. All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine
crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks
had passed.
On April 23, as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River, I
looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold
around his waist. His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed
like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone
like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people.
Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they
were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. So I was left there all alone
to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale,
and I felt very weak. Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the
sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground.
Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands
and knees. And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God,
so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been
sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.
Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began
to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your
request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.
But for t wenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked
my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left
him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. Now I am here
to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision
concerns a time yet to come.”
While he was speaking to me, I looked down at the ground, unable to
say a word. Then the one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I
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