As a Hebrew captive of ancient Babylon, Daniel had this quality in abundance. It is the wisdom that comes from God. He maintained it through the service of five kings: one King of Judah, King Jehoiakim — before his exile. And also, He served under four kings of the Babylonian and the Mede-Persian Empires.
He never once veered from the path of God’s wisdom even though the earthly, ungodly “wise” men of his day were in his company and served the kings as well. He was able to distinguish what was from God and what was not from God. He had wisdom in spades, and it came from the God he loved and served with all his heart. He was always quick to give his God the praise for his gift of wisdom. Daniel was able to interpret many dreams and visions for the kings while he was in their service. His interpretations were 100% accurate—as God spoke through Daniel.
At the end of the book of Daniel, he is given a vision from an angel a prophecy of the latter days. He is told to write it down and seal it up for a time distant to him described by the angel as the “latter times.” It is characterized as a time of:
- A) Increased knowledge.
- B) Increased travel and business endeavors.
- C) A latter time in the future of his Jewish nation, Israel.
Receiving this vision had not been easy for Daniel. He was told to write it down and seal it up. He felt sick for days after this vision. It was very disturbing to him. He had a hard time carrying on and just being able to stand upright. God gave Daniel renewed strength, as the vision was so overwhelming that it drained him completely of his physical and spiritual fortitude.
But, it was a written-down prophecy and was sealed until the time in the future in which the seals were to be broken. Daniel was told to carry on and go his way, as this vision did not apply to the day and time he was currently living.
It was sent ahead of him—to give wisdom and revelation to those living during a time in the future. To the wise, it will be their survival guide and road to repentance. To the godless fool, it will make no sense at all and be scoffed at. Daniel’s own people will line up on both sides of this prophecy; some will be wise and able to instruct others of its meaning, and others will be fools perishing in their unbelief.
I believe the sealed scroll of the book of Daniel is the same scroll with the seven seals in the book of Revelation—the scroll of the judgment of God.
Both the book of Daniel and Revelation run parallel in their prophecies concerning the seven-year time of God’s judgment. The similarities are astounding to me and support each other in details of these “latter days.”
Look at this scripture from the book of Daniel in the context of the reign of the Antichrist forecasted for this future time.
“So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant. And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation. Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.
“And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time” (Daniel 11:31-35).
I want to hone in on the part “for those who have understanding will instruct many.” This means those who have wisdom—the kind of wisdom Daniel possessed—they will be the ones instructing others. It will be revived here even in this future tribulational scene, and I feel this godly wisdom is upon us already on the earth.
God has three groups of wise people who will be operating during the tribulation to bring wisdom and understanding directly to the Jews during this seven-year prescribed judgment.
>The Two Witnesses, Elijah and Enoch
>The 144,000 sealed men, 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel.
>Wise men respected among the people who now believe in Christ as their Messiah.
These groups will be prophesying and pointing the Jews to the Messiah they missed, Jesus Christ.
Also, as big as life—just in case a person missed something important, an angel flies across the heavens proclaiming the everlasting gospel. It will be impossible to say to God you had no idea!
“Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people” (Revelation 14:6).
For Christians nestling up to the rapture and the end of the church age, as we are, we get extra wisdom if we want it. We have to seek it out and desire it though. I have earnestly sought for this wisdom and still do so.
As a matter of fact, if we are Christians, we are said to have the mind of Christ. We are also promised wisdom if we ask in faith without wavering, in the book of James. If we apply ourselves to wisdom and study the scriptures—wiser still. If we walk with the wise, we will grow wise. These are all promises from God’s word.
As I have been walking with you all through the book of Revelation—it is a lot to take in and understand. It was hard for Daniel and it is hard for us, as we need wisdom from God to discern it. There is a lot of false doctrine and lack of teaching in this area of biblical prophecy within the church as a whole, I am sorry to say. I don’t let it deter me. I ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and understanding for what I need to know concerning these things. I pray daily for wisdom and understanding.
I have to remind myself that I am living prior to the events described here in the books of Daniel and Revelation—they are coming quickly, closer and closer.
We are not viewing these things far away like Daniel. We are the generation that is going to see them unfold. I truly believe that! So much so, that the wisdom God gives the Christian living during these times is the ability to see that He is coming soon—right at the door. We see and discern the scriptures and compare them to the signs converging on the earth right now – the supernatural wonders displayed on the earth and in the sky.
There’s not really much difference between the first time Jesus came and His coming the second time. The wise and those with faith will always see and welcome Him. For those who have this wisdom—the Holy Spirit is revealing Christ’s imminent return to those who are watching and waiting.
The wise men traveled from the east because they saw “His star in the sky.” The reason they saw His star is because they were looking. They also knew the scriptures very well, enough to know this long- awaited Messiah-King was the one they were seeking. Apparently, they had been waiting and watching for some time; possibly this wisdom was passed down for generations. They were so sure that Jesus was the one, they brought a king’s treasury of the finest things available to them: gold, frankincense and myrrh. They knew when they saw His star—they had Him in their sights.
I am not a rich woman who has this kind of treasury to offer Jesus when I see Him at the sounding of the trumpet. I have been waiting and watching for His return almost my entire life. The wisdom God has given me in these things tells me I will not be disappointed.
But, I do have the riches of wisdom and faith. They have come from Him. I will offer those as gifts when I see Him, hopefully very soon!
Therefore, I really am quite wealthy!
“All this also comes from the Lord Almighty, whose plan is wonderful, whose wisdom is magnificent” (Isaiah 28:29).
Sally Law