Troubled Waters

One Year Bible: Dec. 3

Daniel 11:2-35

Troubled Waters

I am reminded of a song made famous in the ’70s that people have wondered about its true meaning… “When you’re weary, feeling small. When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all…I will comfort you. Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down.”

The song is called “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon and Garfunkle and Anita Franklin “took this song to church.” Does this song “take us to church”? Do we grasp that Jesus is the ONLY BRIDGE then and forever that will take us over the troubled waters?

Make no mistake, the enemy of God will give it everything he’s got to take out the saints in order to stop his own judgment from God. He chooses to stop and hinder us now, and in the end times, he will give it one last futile deadly deception to try and thwart Eternity’s Reward.

The book of Daniel is a very intriguing book because it is based on “The Inbetween.” Daniel sees prophecies that come true before the time of Christ, and he also sees “end time prophecies” that will come true after his time is up.

The question is, “Did Daniel know of Christ or meet HIM personally during his time “On The Restless Sea”?

Let’s take a look back at the book of Daniel. We must agree that Daniel certainly is filled with great “Miracles and Mysteries.” He hangs out with the angels… and beyond.

Let’s go back to the story of “The Fiery Furnace” included in Daniel 3. It is in this place that Daniel's three companions face imminent death. The fire is so hot that it kills the guards that stand outside.

Outside the fire, there are the three men walking to their “death”. Inside the fire, there is a fourth man whose presence is more brilliant and strong than any human of all time. They walk out of that place without even hinting at the smell of that smoke.

The presence of God, in what is believed to be the pre-incarnate Jesus, is found “Inside the fire.” He is in there waiting to “receive them.” He is only found “IN THE FIRE.”

Jesus Christ is always present in the believers’ life, but HIS presence is profound when we walk through the fires!

The book of Daniel is often referred to as the book of Revelation of the Old Testament.

In Daniel 9, Daniel is given a revelation of the 70 weeks, which describes the cutting off of Messiah Prince. This distinguishes His first coming from the time of His reign as King over Israel.

In 9:25, we see the first passage in Daniel referring to “Messiah.” He is the “Anointed One.” This passage tells of His purpose, timing, and results of His coming. In the New Testament, the title “The Christ” means “The Anointed One.”

We learn six objectives that will take place during the 490 years mentioned in this passage that God will complete in the “End Times.” God promises to: Finish the transgressions of men, Bring an end to sin, Make a complete atonement for iniquity, Seal up the vision and prophecies revealed, and Anoint the most holy place again.

Perhaps you may wonder why Satan wasn’t just delivered to Hell and bound after Jesus’ death on the cross. Sometimes I wonder that…

The book of Daniel reminds us that God is not done yet with “His Chosen People.” It is not yet “The Fulness of Time.” God will complete all of His prophecies and restore the temple so that His chosen people will know once and for all that Jesus was the Messiah. He will complete all prophecies, and Satan will be exposed once and for all as the “Anti-Christ.”

He has masqueraded as an angel of light and will come to power through this deception. In so doing, he will deceive those who do not know the Word, the Truth, and The Hope of Christ. This Anit-Christ will be revealed as the traitor that he has always been.

The visions were given to Daniel to “foreshadow” the “veiled Christ,” but He will be fully revealed at the “Fullness of Time.” Until then, Daniel was to “keep silent.” He saw more than he could ever speak...

What broke him and cause him to be pale and sick?

I find it difficult for Daniel to see the visions that told of the destruction of the Jewish kingdom and their judgment and then jump to the end times and the antichrist. It would be difficult to skip from one to the other without seeing a glimpse of the suffering of Jesus that would bridge that gap. I think it not only made Daniel sick to glimpse Jesus’ suffering but also the Antichrist’s final delusion to try and nullify the cross.

Why do I think this? The Bible, in summary, is the story of Grace revealed in one word, “Messiah” or “Christ.”

The exact opposite of Grace is found in the word “Satan” or “Antichrist.”

To stand in the midst of this revelation of how the enemy would come against God, His Son, His Spirit, and the kingdom of God is the most heartbreaking realization a person can experience.

The Jewish people at that time were in desecration and disarray, but help was on the way. God will return them home and make a way for their future.

“On the Restless Sea” of life, there is “A Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Jesus is that bridge and the ONLY way to the Father!

Father, we thank you for the deliverance that you provide for us even though none of us are worthy. We pray that we may keep our eyes on you and be filled by your spirit and power. May we be filled with the courage to stand firmly and bow our knee to no one but YOU. Amen.