THE SERVANT, HIS SUPPORT AND CONTINUANCE (4)

^[p. 416] THE SERVANT, HIS SUPPORT AND CONTINUANCE (4)

Daniel 9:1 - 4; Daniel 9:20 - 25; Daniel 10:11 - 21; Daniel 12:1 - 13

JT What is seen in the second part of the book which is now before us, is the confidence that God placed in Daniel; he has the place of a friend. According to the word, God would do nothing save what He would make known to His servants the prophets (Amos 3:7). That is a principle of great importance. God would draw us into His secrets. So that evidently Daniel rises in the appreciation of heaven: his value on the earth is depreciating, but he increases in value in heaven; he is regarded as ‘beloved’ several times in these chapters, suggestive of the advance that the servant makes. In devotedness to God’s interests he becomes increasingly beloved.

In chapter 7 he has visions from God. “Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head upon his bed”. That is, they are not from the standpoint of his exercises. Chapter 9 is from this standpoint, but here he gets the vision on his bed. God unfolds to him in these two chapters (7 and 8) the two great branches of the gentile domination, those towards the west in chapter 7, and those towards the east in chapter 8. And then, chapter 9 is the outcome of his exercises; it is not what he gets on his bed, but on his knees. He is exercised about his own people, his own city; taking an intercessory place with God with regard to them. He is seen praying, elsewhere, but we have his prayer in extenso in chapter 9; it runs on to the end of verse 19. I suppose the Holy Spirit would lay out before us the intercessory character of his service with regard to that which was dearest to the heart of God, and dearest to the heart of Daniel; that is, Jerusalem and God’s people.

WHM He speaks to God of His faithfulness, keeping His covenant and mercy.

JT Yes. That is, he prays to God as then known, the covenant God of Israel. It is a great matter to have a right basis for our prayer. So that he first says, “I Daniel understood by the books that the number of the years, whereof the word of Jehovah came to Jeremiah the prophet, for the accomplishment of the desolations of Jerusalem, was seventy years”. That is the first thing, that he understood, not simply by Jeremiah’s prophecy, but by books. He no doubt read what there was of value.

WSS Is it your thought that in chapter 9 to the end we get what is given to the servant as a result of desire and exercise?

JT Yes. Chapters 7 and 8 are more God’s concern — what Daniel gets on his bed.

FRB Would you give us the reason for his being called beloved?

JT Immediately, it is because of his great exercise in his prayer in regard to the city and the people, but the ‘beloved’ character of the man goes back farther than that. It is well to bear in mind that heaven has likes and dislikes. This book shows that in our walk and service we have to inquire whether we are liked up there. A beloved person is a lovable person.

JHT I was wondering if the lovable feature of Paul would come out early; and then the Lord appearing to him by night in a vision, saying, “I have much people in this city”, (Acts 18:10) would correspond with Daniel 7 and 8. And then, bowing his knees to the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ — would that go with chapter 9?

JT I am sure there is correspondence. The knees bowed means exercise in prayer; (compare Colossians 2:1 - 3).

FRB Does not the Lord reveal Himself to such? “If any one love me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our abode with him”, (John 14:^[p. 418] 23).

JT Quite so. I think John’s writings would amplify this thought, that not only is one to be successful in his service, but he is to be lovable. John is not presented in Scripture as a leader or model in service; he was a companion of Peter in his early work, but aside from his writings there is not much prominence given to his individual service; but he makes much of lovability.

EW He was “the disciple whom Jesus loved”.

JT He was.

HB You would take John, then, to have been a man who was liked in heaven?

JT Yes. I think he represents, in the New Testament, lovability. Normally heaven’s tastes are reflected in the saints. So that, whilst one may be an effective servant in the way of preaching and teaching, he must not forget that he must be a lovable servant as well.

That Daniel should become the depositary of God’s mind as regards the east and west is a very important matter. Chapters 7 and 8 are most interesting and instructive. As we are equal to it, God talks of His things to us. We are told that Abraham was His friend, and we are told that God spoke to Moses as a man speaks to his friend. We can understand therefore that God graciously makes things known to those who love Him. Of course I am not overlooking that Daniel was a prophet, and that he is employed here as such. In these chapters Christ is alluded to prophetically as Son of man, and Daniel is addressed by this title, so that the ground is wider than that of Israel.

WH Was he maintained in the spirit of Christ in this service?

JT He was. One point with Daniel is continuance, so that in the midst of these great events there is one to whom God can speak. God primarily speaks to him without any solicitation on his part, as far as Scripture shows; but in chapter 9 it is on account ^[p. 419] of his solicitation.

JHT The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy, (see Revelation 19:10).

JT But in chapter 10 Daniel is not equal in strength to the great revelation, and here we get another thing — priestly support. I mention this as indicating what is in the chapter for our souls. First, we have a man getting the divine mind without special solicitations, and then receiving it on account of solicitations, and then again the great exercise of fasting and prayer, and another great revelation or disclosure, and he is not equal to it; all this brings out what is available for the servant. In chapter 10 there is the priestly support that we get in relation to the man clothed with linen.

WH His strength was gone, and the priest comes in to help?

JT Yes, so that he might stand upon his feet, and take in what was presented to him.

GFG Is it your thought that before it is said he understood by books he had a vision from God?

JT Yes, in chapters 7 and 8. But you will notice in these chapters that he is not without interest in the visions, but is very concerned to understand them, especially what relates to the fourth beast. This is the beast that had to do with Christ directly, and with christianity. It is to be remarked that while these six chapters are prophetic, each vision gives special encouragement for faith, for the final deliverance of the people of God is ever in view. This is for the cheer of those in the Lord’s service also; we are to be assured that our labour is not in vain in the Lord.

WHM Is your thought about the priestly service that it is connected with the evening oblation?

JT That is a touch; it would mean that Daniel was maintaining the full height of spirituality. The evening oblation is to correspond with the morning. As you will remember, in the types there were the morning and the evening lambs, accompanied by the oblations and drink ^[p. 420] offerings (see Exodus 29:38 - 41). It was about the time of the evening oblation, which would be dear to his heart. He would value the morning and the evening sacrifices. Many of us are more vigorous in the morning than in the evening. The evening sacrifice is that I should be equally vigorous in the evening as in the morning, that there should be no diminution in spiritual power by the wear and tear of the day. Daniel evidently maintained the height of spirituality under all circumstances. The morning and evening sacrifices were of equal value.

WHM David says, “Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening oblation”, (Psalm 141:2).

JT Normally we are vigorous in the morning, but the heat of the day causes decline. I believe that household readings and prayer are of great value in God’s sight.

FRB That is the true thought of continuance.

JT Yes. So that Daniel says, “Whilst I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before Jehovah my God for the holy mountain of my God; whilst I was yet speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, flying swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation”. That would mean that Daniel was in full priestly vigour in his prayer — whilst he was doing these things. He enumerates what he was doing.

FS All these experiences you would have us all to go in for — the bed — and having to get up to approach God?

JT Yes. The experience of lying in bed, in chapter 7, would be quite acceptable to God; you are restful, that is necessary. It is not easy to get much of that in these meetings; you do not get much time for rest. But it is very important to be restful, if you are to receive something from God. Being on your knees, as in chapter 9, is also most necessary; but in a time of restfulness God can pour in His thoughts to the soul. It is not laziness, it is ^[p. 421] restfulness. But in chapter 9 it is the other side, it is energy. Daniel is engaged in all these things, and the touch is at the time of the evening oblation.

FWW What is the force of Gabriel coming in here?

JT Well, he has a great place in Scripture. He is specially Luke’s angel. He is not a military man — Michael is the military angel. He comes to Daniel at the time of the evening oblation. In Luke, he has a remarkable place; it was he who stood beside the golden altar, it was he who had to do with the Lord’s birth. I think he is the priestly angel.

FWW Does he bring in the thought of grace and support?

JT I thought that — priestly ministration. He would thoroughly understand Daniel, and his priestly exercise here, and so conveys the mind of God to him. God used him to convey His mind to the prophet. And so, in regard to the birth of John the baptist, he understood the position of the golden altar (Luke 1). No doubt the heavenly dignitaries have their offices; I should say that Gabriel’s is priestly.

JC This heavenly dignitary was detained three weeks, (chapter 10:13).

JT That would be spiritual opposition; “The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me”. It would be most comforting to Daniel to have a priestly dignitary in heaven, and one who could come to him in this way. Of course, that is all centred in Christ now — all that Michael meant, all that Gabriel meant, is centred in Christ personally in heaven. The same remarks apply to angelic representation of children spoken of by the Lord in Matthew 18.

Ques Does not that make the “touch” here all the more important? He came and touched him.

JT Well, Daniel would understand the priestly touch. No doubt it would greatly accentuate his ability to take in the communication that was about to be made ^[p. 422] to him. The book greatly stresses the value of prayer — what heaven thinks of a praying person.

JHT In Luke 22:41 - 43 we read: “And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and having knelt down he prayed, saying, Father, if thou wilt remove this cup from me: — but then, not my will, but thine be done. And an angel appeared to him from heaven strengthening him”.

JB Do you think it is the Lord’s way to sustain you in relation to the unfoldings He gives?

JT That is what comes out in chapters 10 and 11; the great sympathy of heaven with Daniel. The lesson for us is that as we advance in the Lord’s service heaven becomes more interested: we begin to get weak as we grow old. God knows this and has sympathy for us, helping us accordingly. So that there is a great deal in these chapters to encourage the servants who are advanced in years to continue, not to give up, but to go on. As was remarked, Daniel was very old at this time.

LM It would be the same as, “though our outward man is consumed, yet the inward man is renewed day by day”, (2 Corinthians 4:16).

HB-t In this chapter Daniel was very old; probably more than ninety, this being the third year of Cyrus.

JT “The third year of Cyrus” directs us back to earlier statements as to Daniel’s continuance and prosperity. Cyrus had by this time issued his proclamation for the building of the house of God at Jerusalem (Ezra 1).

HB-t John was very old when he was at Patmos.

JT There is a great analogy between John and Daniel. You have the idea of continuance in John (John 21:22) and in Daniel. For those who are getting on in years, it is a great matter if heaven, takes special notice of us. It would touch us, so that we should not give in, but go on in grace and patience. Chapter 12 shows us that a definite end is reached. There is resurrection, and Daniel’s people will be delivered, and Daniel shall stand in his lot.

^[p. 423] No matter how old we may be, we are to keep on; the Lord will specially sustain us.

ASL “They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; to shew that the Lord is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him” (Psalm 92:14,15). With regard to these servants getting on to ninety, it would convey to us that the Lord is upright, and there is no unrighteousness with Him. He indicated that it should be so, and it turns out to be so.

WHM Another verse occurs to one, “The hoary head is a crown of glory”, (Proverbs 16:31).

RW “Who satisfieth thine old age with good things; thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:5). That creature has great strength.

Rem It says in Acts 21:16 that Paul was to stay with an old disciple. Would he be one who would encourage Paul in the pathway?

JT He would, indeed! He was to stay with him at Jerusalem. I think it was rather a reflection on what was in Jerusalem; they had evidently waned in their hospitality; things had gone down in Jerusalem, so that the apostle brings his host with him. “An old disciple, with whom we were to lodge”. Old persons need attention themselves; but this man must have had the character of a host.

RM He may have been one of the five hundred to whom the Lord appeared at once!

WSS I was thinking of chapter 9:23; “At the beginning of thy supplications the word went forth”, corresponding with the similar expression in chapter 10:12: “from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand”. These are very encouraging on the lines you have been bringing before us.

JT It seems to me that the Lord, in these closing chapters, including what we had this morning, would speak to us of prayer, as the secret of continuance. As we ^[p. 424] were saying, old age creeps on, and God would have us to be fresh: not only keeping up with present truth, but being lovable and fresh in it.

LM It is very good for the old to have those that are young before them, but I think often that we do need to consider the older ones.

JT Yes. In almost every prayer, or word of ministry the young are in view, which is of course right; but the old require attention, too.

JHT What they did with Ruth’s child is important; they put him in Naomi’s bosom, and said, “He shall be ... a nourisher of thine old age”, (Ruth 4:15).

JT The communication here by Gabriel is important; it is connecting the people with Daniel. He says, “Therefore consider the word, and have understanding in the vision: Seventy weeks are apportioned out upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to close the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make expiation for iniquity, and to bring in the righteousness of the ages, and to seal the vision and prophet, and to anoint the holy of holies. Know therefore and understand: From the going forth of the word to restore and to build Jerusalem unto Messiah, the Prince, are seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks. The street and the moat shall be built again, even in troublous times. And after the sixty-two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, and shall have nothing”. This is in answer to Daniel’s prayer, to instruct him as to what was near his heart, Jerusalem and the people — “thy people”, “thy holy city”.

JB And he would stand in his lot, as it says in chapter 12:13, “thou shalt stand in thy lot”.

JT Daniel might query, Why my people and my holy city? I think it would lead him to think of how God put things on him. He had taken that ground.

Rem In verse 19, Daniel says, “Thy city and thy people”.

JT Yes, that was intelligent, but the angel says to him, “thy people and ... thy holy city”. It indicates how God places responsibility on the servant.

HB-t What is the thought of anointing the holy of holies?

JT I suppose to make it suitable for God. It had been desecrated; the prophecy would indicate that. I suppose it is to make it dignified, suitable for God, for His service. But, this thought of thy people and thy holy city raises the question as to how much I can take on. What is my attitude in regard to these things? God is putting something on me when He says, thy people and thy holy city.

FW Is it a recognition of Daniel’s priestly state?

JT No doubt. He had rightly said they were God’s people and God’s city, but Gabriel says, “thy people ... thy holy city”. Well, I have to consider what stands related to me in this way. I must see to the saints as thus obligated to them. Now it is a question of his people. He had been occupied with the gentiles.

WCG Would you say he is a true pillar in the house of God, according to Revelation?

JT Exactly; the overcomer in Philadelphia is made that. He is honoured.

WCG It is a great favour.

JT Does it not appeal to you as to what you can take on?

Ques Is not that the true character of a priest?

JT Exactly. But it is a question of one’s power; the breadth, the scope of what one accepts. I believe it is an important matter as to how much we take on. What have I taken on to do for the Lord? because service implies a transaction with the Lord. What obligation have you taken on?

WCG The apostle Paul says, “my glad tidings”.

JT Yes, and necessity is laid upon him. “It is woe to me if I should not announce the glad tidings” (1 Corinthians 9:16).

WCG The psalmist said, “I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people”, (Psalm 89:50).

JT But the Lord took it on supremely at the cross; it is the spirit of Christ, to take on things.

HB-t Ruth 1:16 says, “thy people shall be my people”.

JB In John’s third epistle he speaks of his children, “my children”. He rejoiced greatly to see them walking in the truth.

JT You see how Joseph took on the obligation of his father’s house in what he says to Pharaoh (Genesis 47). He identified himself with them. He was lord of all Egypt, but they would tend to discredit him, especially because they were shepherds; he selected five and tutored them, because he was to be identified with them as bringing them in before Pharaoh. That is to say, he took on that obligation.

WSS Daniel identified himself with the people: “We have sinned, and have committed iniquity”.

JT Yes. And then, after a certain number of weeks, his desires would come to pass. So that, however much obligation I take on, the fulfilment of my responsibility, the result for God, must be by God Himself. But He loves to have us take on obligations.

Ques Does Paul indicate that when he speaks of what came upon him? (see 2 Corinthians 11).

JT Just so: the care of all the assemblies.

JB He spoke of the sufferings of Christ, filling up “that which is behind of the tribulations of Christ” (Colossians 1). That was a good deal to undertake.

JT Chapter 9 stands by itself. Chapter 10 begins, “In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a thing was revealed unto Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar; and the thing is true, but the appointed time of trial is long; and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision”. Then he goes on to tell us, “In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks: I ate ^[p. 427] no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine into my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three full weeks were fulfilled. And on the four-and-twentieth day of the first month, I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel: and I lifted up mine eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, and his loins were girded with pure gold of Uphaz; and his body was like a chrysolite, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as torches of fire, and his arms and his feet as the look of burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude”. The priestly service for the support of Daniel particularly enters into chapter 10; he is supported in the presence of this great vision. It is an exceptional appearance. It is a personage of extraordinary features, but he is priestly — clothed in linen.

We reach a point here that enters into what we have been saying as to God increasing the light. He is presenting ever-increasing light to Daniel, and as to ourselves it is a question of whether we are equal to what God presents to us. There is no limit to the outlet of God’s thoughts in Christ, the limitation is in our ability to take them in. The apostle says, “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom every family in the heavens and on earth is named, in order that he may give you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power by his Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:14 - 16). That corresponds with our chapter. It is on a very high spiritual level. The greatest thoughts are presented in this personage, but Daniel is equal to them. So that what follows is the setting out of divine support, so that he might understand. He tells us in the first paragraph that he did understand, but the remaining part of the chapter shows how he came to it.

HB It is very touching how the thought of manhood is emphasised in this chapter: “one like the appearance of a man”, and “one after the likeness of the sons of men”. The support is by such an one.

JT Yes. It says, “I was left alone and saw this great vision”. It is for himself. “And there remained no strength in me; and my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. And I heard the voice of his words; and when I heard the voice of his words, I fell into a deep stupor on my face, and my face to the ground. And behold, a hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and the palms of my hands. And he said unto me, O Daniel, man greatly beloved”. Now you see the position, what he is to heaven, and how Daniel must not miss the full meaning of the vision. It is a very great affair, and he must be equal to it.

JHT His comeliness was turned into corruption; then he was set upon his knees, and the palms of his hands, and then again he was told to stand upright. What is there in all that?

JT It is the progressive result of the support given. God would have us to stand upright, to be able to take in what He presents to us.

WSS I suppose that this would teach us that we cannot take in these things in natural strength?

JT Yes; natural strength is turned to corruption.

WSS He says in verse 19, “Let my Lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me”. Strength had been given to hear what was about to be spoken.

JT The gradualness of it is remarkable. In the passage read, it says, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words which I speak unto thee, and stand upright; for unto thee am I now sent”. You are struck with the place that Daniel had in the mind of heaven: “And as he spoke this word unto me, I stood trembling. And he said unto me, Fear not, Daniel; for from the first day that thou didst set thy heart to understand, and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come because of thy words”.

^[p. 429] So that the answer to his prayer is greater than he expected; Daniel was not equal to it, but God would make him equal. He would make us equal to what He presents, and that is what is in view in the Spirit of the Father operating in the inner man of the believer; it is “according to the riches of his glory”, that we might be “strengthened with power by his Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16). There is no limit to what He will unfold to you. But then, have I the power to take it in? That is this chapter. The apprehension of the immensity of what is presented in Christ requires more than spiritual mental ability, it requires the strength given in the inner man by the Spirit of the Father.

Ques Would these be the exercises of a man who has accepted responsibilities?

JT I think it is all based on chapter 9 and the three weeks mourning and fasting in chapter 10. It is in relation to his own exercises, but God gives you far more than you might have desired or expected.

ASL Is not a wholly new condition necessary for us to take in the deep things of God? In flesh and blood conditions the presence of the glory is too much for us; we cannot stand on our feet, but then the hand touches us. I was thinking of Colossians — risen with Christ, and quickened together with Him.

JT God would open up great things to us. There is indeed a very wide field opened up now, the Person of Christ — who He is, what He is, and His varied relations and offices. An infinite field is opened up to the saints; are we equal to it? Some oppose, others are troubled, and others fail to take the things up prayerfully with the Lord, leaving them for want of interest and energy. This chapter like Ephesians 3, is, that there might be ability; as the apostle says, that we might apprehend with all the saints the breadth and length and depth and height, and know the love of Christ that passeth knowledge, and be filled with all the fulness of God. Here was something ^[p. 430] extraordinary for Daniel; he had not seen anything like this before. Evidently it exceeded the vision that Nebuchadnezzar had: he had no power in the presence of it. But God made him equal to it, so that he “understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision”, as he tells us.

JG In the book of Daniel emphasis is laid on the word ‘understand’. Do you not think that if we do not understand we are in danger of the enemy? It says (Matthew 13:19) that “every one who hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the wicked one comes and catches away what was sown in his heart”. So that in regard to “the present truth”, which refers to the sonship and offices of the Lord Jesus, if we do not understand them we shall be in danger.

JT That is a solemn consideration; and besides, we shall miss great gain. We cannot afford to lose anything that God is pleased to open up to us; we may not be able to take it in immediately, but if we wait on the Lord prayerfully He will give us understanding (2 Timothy 2:7). There is great variety in this man’s appearance. It says, “A certain man clothed in linen” — that is simple enough being priestly purity. “And his loins were girded with pure gold of Uphaz” — that is a deeper thought, pointing to service divinely excellent. “And his body was like a chrysolite” — this is personal and substantial; condition or form. “And his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as torches of fire, and his arms and his feet as the look of burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude” — these are attributes. Can I take all in? There is something wonderful here. One great point of the chapter is to show how God can strengthen us so that we might know Himself and the great things He unfolds to us.

PP Would this correspond with John in Revelation 1:17? “When I saw him I fell at his feet as dead”.

JT Very much. The Lord laid His right hand upon him and said, “Fear not”. His right hand laid on him would mean that strength was imparted to John.

FWW This river Hiddekel was the third river flowing out of Eden. I was wondering if the figure here brought in a resurrection sphere, which is incomprehensible apart from divinely given strength. Then you have the three weeks’ fasting, which would correspond with the thought of death and resurrection.

JT Quite so; and the man’s position in relation to the river; he was over it, (see chapter 12).

WCG It is remarkable that in these exercises Daniel did not cease to be a commoner, he continued in “the king’s business” (chapter 8:27).

JT He was, as we see in types, one of the “common people”; he maintained his relations to the ordinary affairs, and that ministers to the levite and the priest. That is important. As we link this chapter with Ephesians 3 we shall get the bearing of it.

WCG Romans makes us good commoners.

JT You mean that if we want to be good Ephesians we must be good Romans. This chapter is really an Ephesian chapter, because it is a question of the greatness of what God unfolds to us, the vastness of it, and our being equal to it. And so the ministrations to Daniel throughout the chapter are to make him equal to what is presented. As was said, we cannot afford to miss anything God is unfolding today. We must not at the end have to say to the Lord that great things were presented and we did not understand. What will He say to us? ‘Why did you not understand? why did you not come to Me’? “The Lord will give thee understanding” (2 Timothy 2:7). And, moreover, there is support that He gives, as we have seen. There will be a constant unfolding and increase of light, if we are equal to it. Luke 19:11, says, “as they were listening ... he added and spake a parable”.

RW Would it be that there is not the condition of soul?

^[p. 432] JT What we are seeing here is that the Lord furnishes the condition. A brother said to me, ‘I have never read the book of Ezekiel’. How can you understand the book of Ezekiel if you do not read it? Many brethren do not read much. Look at the book of Ezekiel — the vastness of the glory opened up to us; and so, we may say, as to every book of Scripture. What God resents is unconcernedness in His people — that the greatest things may be unfolded but there is no concern.

EW Daniel set himself to understand.

JT Exactly.

FI Do you connect “O man greatly beloved” with knowing the love of Christ which passeth knowledge? because it says of Daniel immediately that he was strengthened, and then he says, “Let my lord speak”. He is prepared now to take in the vision.

JT The chapter shows that he was not unconcerned. Those who were with him fled. It says in verse 7, “And I Daniel alone saw the vision; and the men that were with me saw not the vision, but a great quaking fell on them, and they fled to hide themselves. And I was left alone”. He did not flee, and so he is supported and understands the vision.

EG Do you mean that we should not ignore these Old Testament books in our readings?

JT Yes. If we do, we miss a lot. I wonder how many brothers and sisters have read this book since we began it yesterday? If we do not follow things up we do not understand. “Have ye understood all these things?” the Lord said. They said, “Yea, Lord”, and the Lord evidently accepted the answer, (Matthew 13:51).

LM In 1 John 5:20 we read “we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding”. Would that correspond with this?

JT Yes. The Son of God gives us an understanding.

LM Is it only the apostles who can say, “We know”, or is it more ^[p. 433] general?

JT It is characteristic, I think, of christians.

Now, what you get here is the thought of a man — that is sympathy — he ‘touched me’. “Then there touched me again one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me; and he said, Fear not, man greatly beloved; peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong”. It is strength in the inner man that is needed to take in such things, strength of heart, strength of understanding. So that Daniel continues, “as he was speaking with me I was strengthened, and I said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me”. Now he can hear: “Let my lord speak”: that in principle is within the reach of every one of us.

Ques Would Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus hearing His word be something like this?

JT Quite: she could sit down and listen.

WSS Verse 21 would confirm what you were just saying about reading: “I will declare unto thee that which is set down in the scripture of truth”.

JT I was thinking of that. It shows the place the Scriptures have in relation to the divine unfoldings. All will be in accord with them, hence the importance of reading and knowing the Scriptures. “The scripture of truth“: there you get certainty.

Rem In Revelation 1:3 the Spirit says, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein”; I do not think we can all understand the prophets, but we could keep them and know them.

JT I do not believe God has written anything that we cannot understand. He has written for our understanding.

GWW Daniel gets three distinct touches. He does not reach the understanding until he has had these touches. One feels the importance of it. It brings one into personal contact with the Lord. It is not merely that I have seen something, or heard a voice from a distance,

^[p. 434] but there is a personal touch, which results in a capacity to understand and enter into these things.

WCG “They that seek the Lord understand all things”, (Proverbs 28:5).

FI Is the personal touch connected with the knowledge of being loved?

GWW Yes, I thought so. You do not appreciate a personal touch unless you know it is the touch of love.

FI That is what it seems here with Daniel; the first and second touches are connected with a “man greatly beloved”.

GWW John had to get the touch of the right hand (Revelation 1:17), before he could understand the things revealed to him.

EW It says in Luke 24:45 “Then he opened their understanding to understand the scriptures”; is there any limit to that?

JT Not at all. We must not put limits as to the understanding of Scripture. We must not think for a moment that God has given us anything that we cannot understand.

Rem “The Lord give thee understanding in all things”, (2 Timothy 2:7).

JT Quite so. “And he said, Knowest thou wherefore I am come unto thee? And now I return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I go forth, behold, the prince of Greece shall come”. All this is very interesting, because it shows the activity of God in relation to these powers — that God is moving all the time, as it were. But the visitations are to beloved people. That is what we need to cherish and cultivate; that which is lovable to heaven, and lovable to one’s brethren.

To proceed for a moment to chapter 12. (In chapter 11 we have a long prophetic account of the third great kingdom — all converging on the last days.) “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of distress”. So that the prospect is of Michael standing up. He is the prince of Israel, and would thus point to Christ. “And at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that is found written in the book”. So that now we come to counsels, and those whose names are written will be delivered. In all these happenings, the immutable counsel of God stands. Nothing will be lost. Everything of Him will appear at the end. And so it goes on, “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame, to everlasting contempt. And they that are wise shall shine as the brightness of the expanse; and they that turn the many to righteousness as the stars, for ever and ever”.

WHM That is a great incentive to winning souls.

JT Yes, those that are written in the book. Revelation speaks of the Lamb’s book of life. The whole chapter is to encourage Daniel: “And thou, Daniel, close the words”; and then in verse 5, “And I Daniel looked, and behold, there stood other two, the one on this side, on the bank of the river, and the other on that side, on the bank of the river. And he said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, How long is it to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river; and he held up his right hand and his left hand unto the heavens, and swore by him that liveth for ever that it is for a time, times, and a half”. I think that what was already said is confirmed here, that the man “above the waters of the river” is victorious. He lifted up his hands and “swore by him that liveth for ever”; he gives certainty. It involves the victory of God in the eternal blessing of His people.

FWW That is a very great extensive result.

JT Yes; and then it says in verse 8, “And I heard, but I understood not. And I said, My lord, what shall be the end of these things? And he said Go thy way,

^[p. 436] Daniel; for these words are closed and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and be refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. And from the time that the continual sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand, two hundred, and ninety days. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand, three hundred and thirty-five days!” We are left with the idea of patience; you do not stop at the thousand, two hundred and ninety, but go on to the remaining forty-five days. “Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand, three hundred and thirty-five days!” The blessing lies in going on to the end.