Highlights of FOTET’S 2023 “DANIEL UNSEALED” Series, Chapter By Chapter!

Highlights of FOTET’S 2023 “DANIEL UNSEALED” Series, Chapter By Chapter!

 

 

“DANIEL UNSEALED”

Chapter By Chapter Highlights

3/7/23  By Tim Buck
Fotet.org

Thinking DanielIf you spent any time in Sunday School you know about Daniel with the stories of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego escaping the fiery furnace and Daniel escaping the Lion’s den. But Daniel is more than a Bible character on your teacher’s flannelgraph.
 
His book accurately prophesied more than 2500 years of world history with astonishing detail. And in the process, students of prophecy discover something very important. God wants us to use Daniel’s prophecies as the standard for interpreting other prophecies. It’s unique design built into every chapter presents it as God’s blueprint for prophetic interpretation. Here’s the best part.The book holds the key to understanding our history and our tumultuous times today and reassures us of God’s absolute authority over the future.

Overview, All Six Classes!

– 2023 Dates –

Four Beasts, 10 Horns and a Little Horn – Daniel 7 (March 14)

The prophecy that was revealed to King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 2, that there would be four world-ruling empires, was repeated about 50 years later in Daniel 7. This time, however, it was Daniel who had the dream, and there were added details.

In this vision Daniel saw four beasts—representing the same four world-ruling empires described in Daniel 2 that come up out of the sea. The phrase “coming out of the sea” is a purposeful link that coincides with the Beast of Revelation 13 who “comes out of the sea” so we know the four beasts of Daniel 7 are also depicting the final empire of Antichrist.

Daniel noted that there was also a little horn that spoke blasphemous words against God and made war against the saints. God reveals the “little horn” (Antichrist) for the first time in scripture, and dramatic details emerge of the intensity of his war against Israel and the unprecedented evil that will pour out from the empire of Antichrist.

Daniel 7 also gives us a much greater explanation of the fourth beast, which has 10 horns, representing 10 kings that would arise from the fourth kingdom. This prophecy concludes with more details about the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom.

The Ram and the Goat – Daniel 8 (April 18)

One of the unstated themes running throughout Daniel is his search through these empires to identify the bloodline and geographical territory of Antichrist. In the eighth chapter, Daniel begins his journey of narrowing down the search for Antichrist. To accomplish this we are given an expanded vision of just two of the four world-ruling empires, the Persian and Grecian Empires also identified in Daniel 2 and 7. Daniel sees a vision of a ram with two horns (Medes and Persians) and then a male goat with a single notable horn between his eyes (Alexander the Great) conquering the ram.

The historical fulfillment of this vision is Greece under Alexander the Great conquering the Medo-Persian Empire. The search narrows as it then follows the division of Alexander’s kingdom after his untimely death into four new empires ruled by his four generals.

It further narrows with the focus landing on two of the four new Grecian Empires; the Ptolemy and Seleucid empires. In one last twist, Daniel narrows our search for Antichrist down to just one possibility when sees another “little horn,” coming out of one of these two empires but he’s different from the little horn of Antichrist in chapter 7.

This time he’s the rogue and vile Syrian King of the Seleucid Empire who in 167 BC launched severe persecution of the Jewish people in a pattern to be followed by Antichrist. This becomes the model for the rise of Antichrist to emerge from the Middle East land mass of the Seleucid Empire in the territory of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran.

 

 

 

Israel’s Calendar Revealed, 70 Weeks of Daniel – Chapter 9 (June 20)

The 70-weeks prophecy found in Daniel 9 reveals God’s extensive 490 year calendar that unfolds His plans for Israel. This remarkable prophecy dates the coming of Jesus Christ to earth the first time and also identifies significant aspects of Jesus’ ministry. Israel should have known when their Messiah showed up in Galilee.

We learn that the majority of Israel’s calendar events were fulfilled at the time of Jesus’ death covering 483 years, but that seven years still await fulfillment. These final seven years that remain unfulfilled is the seven-year Tribulation period.

The seven years begins with an international peace treaty or covenant, is disrupted when Antichrist invades Israel and breaks the covenant by committing the abomination of desolation in the middle of the seven years, and ends when the disruptor is soundly defeated at the Second Coming of Jesus.

Spiritual Warfare, Fighting the Prince of Persia, Placing Life in the Larger Story – Chapter 10 (August 8)

In Daniel ten, Gabriel pulls the curtain of the unseen spirit-world aside and reveals the battle of spiritual warfare up close and personal. In addition, Gabriel reveals God’s, “Book of Truth” to Daniel, God’s heavenly record of unrevealed end-time events which is kept in heaven.

The chapter reminds us that until we grasp the spiritual realties at work in this world, we will never truly appraise the things in our lives the way that we should. We learn that behind whatever crises or conflicts the world faces, lies a more potent spiritual conflict. A conflict that requires spiritual weapons, prayer and discernment. The chapter reminds us that we have a God who is more than capable of handling any crises of the past, present and future.
 
Wars of Antichrist – Daniel 11 (September 26)

Of particular interest in this chapter, to students of prophecy is Daniel’s reference to “the abomination of desolation” (Daniel 11:31; 12:11). In Daniel 11 this refers to evil events that the other “little horn,” Antiochus IV Epiphanes did like pouring pig’s broth throughout the Temple and outlawing being Jewish, atrocities he committed in Jerusalem around 167 B.C.

In chapter 12 the abomination is in the context of the “time of the end” (Daniel 12:4) pointing to when Antichrist desolates the temple in the seven-year Tribulation. Jesus later spoke of this same end-time event (Matthew 24:3, 15).

Writing from the location perspective of the land of Israel, Daniel 11 writes of other powers coming into the region he referred to as “the king of the South” and “the king of the North” (Daniel 11:5-6). Of special interest to us, verses 36-45 speak of these same powers becoming the end-time wars of Antichrist (king of the north) as he seeks to conquer all the land of Israel and destroy God’s people. This scenario is rising right before our eyes today as the nations of the Middle East shuffle and are staged for the coming final empire.

Daniel 12 Wrap up!

While previous prophecies in the book of Daniel have touched upon end-time events, the final short chapter gives special emphasis to wrapping up his vision of the Tribulation period. Even though this will be “a time of great trouble” unlike any other, the encouragement for God’s people is that after Christ returns they will receive eternal life and be glorified in the Millennial Kingdom with their beloved King Jesus on the Throne in Jerusalem.

Understanding Daniel’s prophesies is so important today because most interpretation of prophetic events these days, especially on the internet and TV, is based on emotions and current events as opposed to sound doctrine flowing from the study of the Word.
So we invite you to join us for each class this year.

GABRIEL FLEW IN WITH AN ANSWER, SWIFTLY!!!

GABRIEL FLEW IN WITH AN ANSWER, SWIFTLY!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Gabriel Flew In With An Answer… Swiftly!!!

2/28/23  By Tim Buck
Fotet.org

“Then Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me at the time of the evening offering saying, ‘O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand.”
Daniel 9:20-23

Now A Word From An Angel

Daniel was praying for answers while interceding on behalf of his people, pleading with the Lord to restore His Temple and restore the children of God.

Daniel’s prayers were passionate. He was standing in the gap between judgment and restoration and baring his soul before the Lord. And then it happened without warning… Gabriel appeared.

I love Daniel’s response: Daniel said, “While I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel…BEING CAUSED TO FLY SWIFTLY, reached me about the time of the evening offering.” In today’s world, this experience would be so thrilling, I can see someone telling it on every Christian TV show worldwide! But not Daniel. Daniel spoke of this so nonchalantly…”Oh, by the way, while I was in prayer, Gabriel flew in with an answer!”

But, my goodness…Gabriel DID fly in with an answer! SWIFTLY!!

Gabriel’s message was profound. He said, “When you began to plead with God, the Lord answered you and now I have come to give you an answer.” The Message translation reads like this, “You had no sooner started your prayer when the answer was given. And now I’m here to deliver the answer to you. You are much loved!”

A Word About Gabriel

As you study the book of Daniel, please recognize one incredible fact. For six chapters (Chs. 7-12) the text is mostly a direct quote from the angel Gabriel!!! Gabriel is either directly telling Daniel about the latter days or he is appearing to him in a vision.

In all of Scripture Gabriel spoke to only two other human beings: Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and both of those were short conversations by comparison!

Let’s review this point. Gabriel only ever spoke to John the Baptist’s father, the father of the one whom Jesus declared was the greatest human ever born (Mt. 11:11). And the only other person he spoke to was the mother of Jesus, the woman who gave birth to the great I AM! Would you agree that’s a pretty exclusive club? The mighty angel Gabriel was sent to no one else… except Daniel… multiple times. Gabriel could have used an apartment in Daniel’s house because of how much personal time he spent with Daniel!

Gabriel repeatably visited and spoke to Daniel time and again addressing him with deep respect and even pointing out how much the Lord loved him (“greatly loved”) and how much the Lord appreciated Daniel’s testimony and prayer life!

Since this has happened to no one else in the Bible, it elevates the priority God placed on the uniqueness and importance of Daniel’s prophecy. The list of exclusive end-time topics and insights covered in the last six chapters of Daniel is a gold mine and God took great care in dispatching His mighty angel so we could get this right.

In Daniel 10:21, Gabriel tells Daniel that he’s going to explain the events of the last days to him by reading out of God’s “Book of Truth.” This remarkable encounter reveals that in heaven there is an additional “writing of truth” from the Bible. The book or library of books contains details of the last days not included in Scripture and is apparently written for the Lord’s spirit servants to effectively help the Lord carry out His end time plans. It’s unavailable and unrevealed to us except for the few verses Gabriel shares with Daniel in chapter 10.

Gabriel knows all about God’s unrevealed future plans because he “stands in the presence of God” (Luke 1:19), a unique position not said of any other being. That place of privilege gives him direct access to the Lord and access to read the “Book of Truth” so that when Gabriel flies in, he comes in loaded with answers… six chapters of answers!

Chapter 11 alone is the single longest prophecy in Scripture containing some 150 prophecies including the longest running passage in the Bible outlining the exploits of Antichrist.

Gabriel proceeds to give Daniel details about Israel’s Calendar with the date of Messiah’s first coming, future kingdoms and world rulers that will arise that we should be watching for and so on, 100’s, even 1000’s of years before it will ever happen.

But here’s the thing, Gabriel flies in, not just to give Daniel answers but to give us answers to understand what’s going on in our day from God’s perspective.

Like Daniel, Jesus challenged the people of His day to, “SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES” (John 5:39). This is so needed. Are you a scripture searcher like Daniel… studying God’s Word and meditating and praying for wisdom and answers?

It’s encouraging to remember that Gabriel showed up because Daniel had read Jeremiah and was searching for answers about the length of Israel’s exile in Babylon (Daniel 9:2). While searching he was crying out to the Lord in prayer, reading the Word and seeking real answers. If you want answers… pray!

I don’t think you should anticipate Gabriel flying in with answers to your prayers while having morning devotions. Instead, God’s Spirit is already in us and can speak to our hearts and gives us answers through His Word.

Friend, God hears us when we call out to Him.

Isaiah 65:24 says, “It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking I will hear.”

Jeremiah 33:3 reads, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.”

The Father delights in responding to earnest, urgent prayers (James 5:16), those filled with humility and honesty. He is drawn to the brokenness of His people.

God loved Daniel a great deal.

His love for YOU is immeasurable.

Know that when you bow before the throne of grace, baring your soul before your Lord, KNOW that He hears you and will respond… with answers!

But just in case… if Gabriel does come flying in swiftly into your prayer closet, I’d like to be the first to know!

Global Acceleration Of Divine Revelation – How God is Unsealing Daniel’s Prophesies Today

Global Acceleration Of Divine Revelation – How God is Unsealing Daniel’s Prophesies Today

 

 

 

 

 

Global Acceleration of

Divine Revelation

1/18/23  By Tim Buck
Fotet.org

Two times in the book of Daniel, God told the prophet to close up his prophesies because they wouldn’t be able to be understood until the time of the end.
Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Go your way, for these words will be kept secret and sealed up until the end time.

 Daniel 12:4, 9

For 2500 years, Daniel’s prophesies have therefore been like a treasure locked up in a safe.

But God promised He would open the eyes of the final generation, our generation, to know their true meaning.

A few questions come to mind about this which are, what exactly does this mean, when did the “time of the end” begin and what will God use to open our eyes?

Must prophecy teachers, including myself believe that the “time of the end” began with the birth of Israel 75 years ago on May 14th, 1948. The miraculous birth of Israel caused many other prophesies to spring forth and be fulfilled.

So what is it that God will use to open our eyes in order to gain the fuller understanding He promised for Daniel’s prophesies?

Since 1948, God has been sovereignly orchestrating a series of events having the effect of breaking Daniel’s code and pouring out it’s contents for all to see. And the Lord is releasing understanding just as He promised.

But, insight is not automatic, and discernment eludes those whose hearts are not enlightened by the Holy Spirit. Jesus often taught through parables which allowed Him to speak to His sheep while those outside His flock remained oblivious (Matthew 13:13).

God’s prophetic Word works like that. Many grope in the darkness because they reject the light, but we who are in Christ “are not of night or of darkness” (1 Thessalonians 5:5). Jesus expects us to recognize the signs of the times (Matthew 16:2-3) and He has chosen to give us harbingers to offer insight — if we have eyes to see.

Can you think of any global events God has used in your life to open your spiritual eyes?

In the last two decades alone we’ve witnessed an explosion of signs and a global acceleration of divine revelation.

In the process, a rich new understanding of Daniel’s prophesies has begun to flow to the Church, and an additional understanding is meant for Israel to better face the dangers in the Tribulation.

When Prayer Outperforms The Occult!

When Prayer Outperforms The Occult!

When Prayer
Outperforms The Occult

Daniel 2

1/16/23  By Tim Buck
Fotet.org

  “Now in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was troubled and his sleep left him. Then the king gave orders to call in the soothsayer priests, the conjurers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams.”

Daniel 2:1-2

God is not pleased with the occult or paranormal, although it is soaring today!

And we learn that it’s been soaring since the time of Daniel the prophet where we see an entire division in the Babylonian government dedicated to practicing the occult. They were the “wise-men” whom Nebuchadnezzar turned to for help with interpreting his dream.

The king’s dream woke him up in the middle of the night and he couldn’t go back to sleep. So he called for his astrologers, sorcerers, magicians and enchanters to help interpret his troubling dream.

These men served the king as his advisors and counselors who relied on the occult and were trained to tap into the demonic. They used incantations to try to intercept messages and decipher things from the demonic realm. All of which are forbidden practices of God’s people (Duet. 8:10-12).

But the wise men ended up being of no value to the king. However, the prophet Daniel rejected the path of the occult and turned to prayer instead. In the midst of a major crises, Daniel and his three friends poured their hearts out to the Lord who answered them and God  intervened by revealing the king’s dream to Daniel.

Witchcraft is disturbingly popular today but prayer takes us into the Throne Room of God.

Social media is now a hotbed of supernaturalism and New Age practices. Promoters attract millions of followers. The Bible suggests such practices will increase in the last days, but for believers, it’s the practice of prayer that should increase in the last days.

Why are Christians being oppressed to the point they cry, “deliver us from evil”? Dark forces are clearly stepping up their game here in the last days, and the target seems to be Christians, especially those who are living for the Lord and telling the truth about God’s plan for the end of the Church Age.

Be assured that the Name of Jesus Christ drives away the demonic. We don’t have to fear!
 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
2 Thessalonians 3:3

The wise-men were of no value to the king, but God revealed the king’s dream to Daniel through prayer, in order for us to know about the things to come.
There is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days.

Daniel 2:28

What’s the Theme of The Book of Daniel? Daniel’s Prophecy Provides a Foreshadowing of Israel In The 7-Year Tribulation

What’s the Theme of The Book of Daniel? Daniel’s Prophecy Provides a Foreshadowing of Israel In The 7-Year Tribulation

Key Passage:

“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end.
Daniel 12:1-4 

While the prophet Daniel lived through many trials and tribulations, one of the underlying themes of his prophecy centers on how God will work on the chosen nation of Israel as He takes them through the Tribulation period.

Like a diamond with many beautiful sides, the 12 chapters of Daniel offer the most comprehensive perspective of the 7-year Tribulation anywhere in the Bible. One of the purposes of the Tribulation is to cause Israel to return to the Lord—and therefore be saved and receive everlasting life.

Each chapter opens a different window uniquely presenting how God brings Israel through the fiery trial of the last 7 years!

This isn’t the only theme in Daniel of course but its the most dominant one and easily missed.

So we’ve prepared a 5 page summary of the 12 Chapters of Daniel highlighting each chapter’s message as it relates to the Tribulation.

Download Daniel Background Notes

 

 

 

 

The Prophet Daniel’s Influence On The Christmas Story!

The Prophet Daniel’s Influence On The Christmas Story!

 

 

 

 

The Prophet Daniel’s Influence On The Christmas Story

12/23/22  By Tim Buck
Fotet.org

“The heavens declare the glory of God.”
Psalms 19:1

After announcing Daniel was “10 times wiser” than all the magicians and astrologers (Daniel 1:20), King Nebuchadnezzar assigned the prophet Daniel to the high office of “chief of the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners” (Dan. 5:11). In other words, Daniel was appointed Chief of the Magi.

Why is this important?

As Christmas approaches, we see images and hear stories of the “Wise Men,” (or, as they are often called, Magi), traveling from the East, following a star in order to pay homage to the Christ-child, the newborn king (Matthew 2:1-12). Many scholars believe that these Magi came from Babylon where Daniel ministered for over 70 years.

How did Babylonians of the first century know about Jewish prophecy, and what led them to believe that this particular star was the one that would lead them to the great “newborn king” and the prophesied Messiah?

Is it possible that the teachings and stargazing knowledge 600 years before Jesus, taught and prophesied by Daniel, is what helped the wise men know when and for what star they should look for concerning Christ’s first coming?

God who has all knowledge and lives in the “eternal present,” most certainly revealed the sign of the star to Daniel. He also revealed the exact time of Messiah’s first coming to Daniel found in Daniel 9:24-27 and commonly referred to as Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy.

As chief of the Magi, Daniel’s teaching and prophecies became known throughout the ancient Near East. Even the Romans
were aware of his prophecies of a coming king of Israel (Matthew 2:3).

The wise men had been patiently waiting for this special star for a long time. They had to travel 1000 miles each way, a journey of about 4 months each way. Oh, but can you imagine what a thrilling journey it must have been as they followed the star in search of Messiah!

After the wise men found baby Jesus and worshipped Him, they were warned of God in a dream that they should not report back to Herod but were told to depart back to their country another way (Matthew 2:12).

God’s inspired Word through the prophesies of Daniel is remarkably accurate. How could Daniel, years before the fact, predict the exact time Christ would be “cut-off” (Dan. 9:26) and die? This prediction helped the wise men understand the exact time Christ would be born. How did Daniel predict that Christ would die while most Jews believed that Messiah would not die but would come and immediately set up His Kingdom on earth?

Just as amazing is that all throughout the Book of Daniel, the prophet predicts 100’s of things that are still yet to come in the last days which predictions are verified in the Book of Revelation.

Those who believe the prophecies in the Old Testament were literally fulfilled in Jesus’ first coming can have hope and confidence that the future prophesies will also come to pass and be literally fulfilled as well. That’s the God we serve who knows the end from the beginning and tells us ahead of time in order that we might believe!

The Magi of the first century would have most certainly studied the writing of Daniel and other writings Daniel referenced, such as the book of Isaiah. This connection between Daniel and the Magi helps explain why almost six hundred years later, the Magi expected a Jewish king to arrive in Judea near the end of the first century B.C.

Daniel’s unique influence on the Christmas story is simply that the Magi followed the star based on their study of the prophet’s writings.

Does What You Do Impact the World?

Think about this… dare to be a Daniel!

The life Daniel lived and the work he did for the Lord helped the Magi centuries after his death to connect the dots between a light in the night sky and the “Light of the World.”

Now, you may say, “I am no Daniel,” but you have no idea how God may use the work he has called you to do nor the impact it might have a year from now, ten years from now, or even much further into the future.

We need to rest in the knowledge that:
…we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Eph. 2:10).

The work that you do for the Lord, even the most mundane thing is work not wasted if it’s done for God’s glory.