Youth Summer 2025

Daniel

I’ll begin with some back story of what I ultimately want to talk about. I brought this message in part to you before but it is good to hear agin because of things happening in the world.

Daniel 7:1–9 “In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel saw a dream and visions of his head as he lay in his bed. Then he wrote down the dream and told the sum of the matter. Daniel declared, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. And four great beasts came up out of the sea, different from one another. The first was like a lion and had eagles’ wings. Then as I looked its wings were plucked off, and it was lifted up from the ground and made to stand on two feet like a man, and the mind of a man was given to it. And behold, another beast, a second one, like a bear. It was raised up on one side. It had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth; and it was told, ‘Arise, devour much flesh.’ After this I looked, and behold, another, like a leopard, with four wings of a bird on its back. And the beast had four heads, and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, terrifying and dreadful and exceedingly strong. It had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces and stamped what was left with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots. And behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.

Re 13:1-9 And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. 2 And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. 3 One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. 4 And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” 5 And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 7 Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation, 8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear:

The waters / gentile nations

The beasts are 4 world empires

Nebuchadnezzar/Babylonian Empire

The medo Persain empire. Kings Cyrus and Darius

Greek Empire of Alexander the Great

Roman Empire

The 4th Beast or the Roman Empire is the one that cause so much distress and fear for Daniel.

Da 7:15–16. 15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me. 16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things.

Then Daniel has a continuation of this vision that gives him and us more of the story but for Daniel

Daniel 10:2–3 “In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks.”

and out of this 4th beast comes 10 kings and ultimately the final anti-christ and anti christ system.

These are words empires and sometimes Kings but what they really are is a world system, a world view that has been growing since the time of the Babylonian empire. They not only took over one another but they also become one another. adopting some of the culture of each.

This 4th world empire or world system of Rome has never gone away. it is has all of the evil built into of the previous empires

but the 4th has something different it now has religion embedded in it. It becomes not only a world wide empire, a world view that is opposite of what a christian world view is but also a world religion. It is a complete empire with structure and control, legal systems, order, education, entertainment, commerce or business, and religion.

that’s why it is so alarming to Daniel.

this world system this world view this world empire that Daniel seen and scares him so bad is not one of his day, but it is of our day and at the end days that are coming.

there are things happening in the world today that are beyond terrifying. They are hard for you to see because it’s been your life. It’s been your world.. it’s a little less difficult for me to see them because I’ve been alive for a long longer period of time and I’ve seen this escalation of the world. But if you have a good knowledge of history and what’s happening, it’s it’s alarming. It’s scary..

From Fred we heard a message on Daniel’s resolve, and world view.

from Terry we heard how God often frees us in times of trial when we are faithful and trust God

We heard from Troy about the writing on the wall.. and that when scripture says that it is written, it is resolved, it is done. but also the importance of the fear of God.

From Tim We heard of Daniels faithfulness to prayer even under the threat of death in the lions den.

So open to Daniel 9:3-19 you can read along but also listen to the reading of scripture. It is a pretty modern thing that we have the blessing and ability to read along with someone as they read. but it is also important to hear the reading of scripture.

Before I begin

In life, We will more than likely, never experience the troubles Daniel experienced!

But we will experience, some sort of suffering, conflict, disappointment. Tragedy and God forbid even disaster.

Something will happen in our lives that stops us in our tracks, quite possibly is seemingly unbearable.

Those things will happen!!!!

but how we go through those things is a matter of our doing. How we go through things is a matter of Our Choice.

There are some things that God chooses for us. Like our salvation, God calls us out of our lostness, to belief. and quite often he calls us into service.

But you need to know that your trials, the tough times in your life, are at least allowed by God, and sometimes even sent by God. Just like the things we see in the book of Daniel. They should cause us to ask why, so if needed we can turn from sin or help and pray for others to turn from sin.

God always has something within difficult times for us to learn, and even blessings that come out of these things for His people. It won't always feel like that when you are in the middle of them but on the other side of trouble you will see those blessings and even lessons.

One of the choices you must make in life, is Who and what we will be. The world, the world view will try to indoctrinate you into something else. But that shouldn't be our desire. What is true and right, is God has something for you. A person you should be.

Satan tells us to keep us busy pursuing all kinds of things. To keep our focus off God and what God wants from our lives. It is tough, if not impossible to figure out what he wants for us, if we remove ourselves from the things that draw us near to God.

There are a lot of decisions that we have to make in life. Making the right ones is tough. But to make the right decisions we have to be resolved and steadfast in our faith and in our knowledge. It has to be our practice to do the things we were meant to do, but also what God has called us to do.

Of all people, Daniel had reasons to fall into doubt and despair. But he resolved at a very young age. and in the middle of great conflict, to Love God first.

Daniel loses his family, his home his, country, everything he is familiar with in life. He is a captive of the very first world empire, the Babylonian empire, a system that wants to indoctrinate him into their beliefs, into their worldview. I’m not sure if that sounds familiar to you but that’s what the world system today does. It seeks to indoctrinate us into its world view. But this world view and world system is outside of God royal decrees, his commandments and way. It is outside of his Grace and mercy.

This world system and world view leads young people into false belief, and into disbelief, separating them from God.

And quite often separating them from their families. Where their families are no longer a part of the moral authority in their lives. This is what Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon had as its goal, to assimilate people into their way of life. and the method is till and more effectively doing the same thing today.

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and ABendnigo. were able to stand in their faith because they had decided, that they had made their decision to follow God no matter the cost.

You must decide the same thing

At your ages I think most decisions are made based on fun, maybe wanting someone to like you or accept you, being popular, being a part of the in crowd, being included. The world has lots of diversions for your minds.

When you get a little older, those diversions shift, to your career, to a family, the kind of house you live in, the kind of car you are going to drive, to where you will travel, maybe you will have a new circle of friends.

All of those things can be great things, but they also can be really horrible things. especially If your life isn't centered on the thing it should be centered on.

Matthew 6:25–34 ““Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

We must arrange our lives in the right order. Seeking the kingdom of God first. That kingdom of God is our hope in our salvation and eternal life. and for peace in our life.

Daniel 9:3–19

3 Then I turned my face to the Lord God,

seeking him by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. 4 I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying,

“O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,

5 we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.

7 To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel, those who are near and those who are far away, in all the lands to which you have driven them, because of the treachery that they have committed against you.

8 To us, O Lord, belongs open shame, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you. 9 To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him 10 and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by walking in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. 11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice.

And the curse and oath that are written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out upon us, because we have sinned against him.

12 He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem.

13 As it is written in the Law of Moses, all this calamity has come upon us; yet we have not entreated the favor of the Lord our God, turning from our iniquities and gaining insight by your truth.

14 Therefore the Lord has kept ready the calamity and has brought it upon us, for the Lord our God is righteous in all the works that he has done, and we have not obeyed his voice.

15 And now, O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and have made a name for yourself, as at this day, we have sinned, we have done wickedly.

16 “O Lord, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy hill, because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and your people have become a byword among all who are around us.

17 Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon your sanctuary, which is desolate.

18 O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our desolations, and the city that is called by your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.

19 O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act. Delay not, for your own sake, O my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.”

In this prayer we see at least 7 things

1. We need to Be dedicated to reading and seeking understanding of scripture. we must spend time in God’s word.

2. We need to Be a faithful and sincere in our Prayer

3. We need to Care about more than just ourselves, to care for what God cares for.

4. We need to Pray for not only the forgiveness of our sins but also the forgiveness of the sins of others and our country and also for the blessing of those.

5. We need to Avoid calamity in your life by being faithful and encouraging others to be faithful to God.

6. We need to Glorify God in your prayers and all that you do.

7. And we need to Be resolved to honor God in your thoughts and deeds.

Gabriel Brings an Answer but it doesn’t comfort Daniel .

So in Daniels stress we see the second Christophany of the week. just like we saw in the fiery furnace, an appearance of Christ as the man in linen above the water of the Tigris river with the arch angels Gabriel and Michael in attendance.

Daniel is so distressed that the Lord of Hosts, Yeshua, the pre incarnate Christ comes to him.

2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning for three weeks. 3 I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks. 4 On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was standing on the bank of the great river (that is, the Tigris) 5 I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, (Yeshua - Jesus) with a belt of fine gold from Uphaz around his waist. 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude. 7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision, but a great trembling fell upon them, and they fled to hide themselves. 8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me. My radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength. 9 Then I heard the sound of his words, and as I heard the sound of his words, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground. 10 And behold, a hand touched me (Hand of Gabriel) and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, 14 and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For the vision is for days yet to come.” 15 When he had spoken to me according to these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was mute. 16 And behold, one in the likeness of the children of man touched my lips. (this is now Jesus) Then I opened my mouth and spoke. I said to him who stood before me, “O my lord, by reason of the vision pains have come upon me, and I retain no strength. 17 How can my lord’s servant talk with my lord? For now no strength remains in me, and no breath is left in me.” 18 Again one having the appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me.( Jesus) 19 And he said, “O man greatly loved, fear not, peace be with you; be strong and of good courage.” And as he spoke to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” 20 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come. 21 But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince.

We see in the readings tonight that there is not only a battle going on in the physical realm but also in the spiritual realm. That Jesus the lord of hosts is involved in. holding back the full weight of satan against creation. and the battle is intense and deadly. Souls are passing from this life to the next in every moment.

This battle, we must take part of. We do this in a lot of ways but here are 7 take aways from Daniel’s prayer.

You have heard the phrase, Oh to be a Daniel. one of the things that you must have seen this week in all the readings and talks is that Daniel in his resolve to be undefiled found great favor with God. That favor just doesn't automatically come with our belief but it comes in.this life through our walk with Christ. It comes from our devotion to do what is right before God.

Resolve to know who you want to be before God so that you may be the one God wants you to be.

Whether you know it or not you are working for a side of that battle everyday.

Jesus, asks a question, “Do you know why I have come?” He came to comfort Daniel. and he came for us to save us from eternal punishment and death.

Everyday pour yourself out as drink offering

Learn to work harder on yourself and not your job. Jim Rohn