The Daniel Discipline vii

I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever Daniel 7:16-18

Daniel’s discipline and devotion has reserved him from defilement in chapter 1, saved him from death in chapter 2, brought him to distinction in chapter 4, rewarded him with his due in chapter 5, brought about his deliverance in chapter 6, and now rewards his devotion with divine insight here in chapter 7… Literally, the rest of time is revealed to Daniel In dreams and visions.

“DANIEL DISCERNMENTS” are a result of personal study, fasting, prayer, meditation, fellowship, confession, and serving… as a result of such devotion, God rewards one with stewardship over divine information and insight that can only be experienced and embraced by FAITH and PURITY.

Any dedicated Christian will tell you that the more purified and closer your walk is with God, the less you can be fooled by men and the more you know them. Hebrews 4:12 declares, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” But there is still a greater benefit and bonus in your nearness to God. Great Christian discipline leads to great insight not only about the affairs of men but the future and the end of the world. As Paul puts it in 1Co 2:9-10 …Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. BUT God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

It is our nearness to God that gives us an increased measure of His Spirit. The fact of the matter is the more I can think like daddy thinks, the more I can see what daddy sees. When you suffer with all diligence to scale the mountain of godliness when you get up high you can see all the way to the end of the world. I’m not talking about merely pharisaical study of the bible; I’m talking about sitting at the feet of Jesus like Mary. I’m talking about laying your head on his breast like John. To know and see this kind of stuff, you’ve got to really know Him. Jesus said, “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” (John 15:15)

Daniel Discernments requires maturity because such wisdom and insight brings about tremendous sorrow for the people of God. It bears the reward of Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” It is an insight that cannot be shared with the masses or by the masses, for they cannot receive it.

In today’s grand confusion of eschatology, the answer is not in the speculation over the unchangeable complexity of details but in the simplicity of the big idea that our unconquerable, conquering King is coming to crush all of the enemies of the cross.

It seems here that the issue is not the details or what “will happen,” for such cannot be change, altered, nor thwarted in any way. It is but information, and for the devout saint, requires no adjustment in his normal devotion routine. Devotion brought about Daniel’s revelation and continued devotion will bring about ultimate salvation. The beauty and bounty of the revelatory reward granted to Daniel is a great surety in knowing, “We have a champion that is stronger than loin-like Babylon, and that will consume more than bear-like Persia, and will move swifter than leopard-like Greece, and will be fiercer than ferocious Rome – a fifth and final kingdom, the last emperor, Jesus Christ.