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Jim Bramlett
Apr 5, 2004
Dear friends:
Regarding my last email and and mention of Iran's (Persia's) role in the Iraq conflict, a reader sent me an article from The Omega Letter Intelligence Digest (Vol: 31 Issue: 5 - Monday, April 05, 2004).
It is titled "The Prince of Persia."
Below is an excerpt of that article. Could the angels Gabriel and Michael at this moment be engaged in combat with the Prince of Persia, the demon stronghold of that area, just as they were in Daniel's day? No doubt, as the article says, there is a great spiritual war going on. In the news media, we are only seeing the physical manifestations.
Jim
___________________THE PRINCE OF PERSIA (excerpt)
Daniel waited, and he prayed, until an angel of the Lord appeared to him. The angel assured Daniel he had been heard from the beginning, "Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words." (10:12)
But the angel said he was withstood for '21 days' (three weeks) by the 'Prince of Persia' until the archangel Michael "came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia." (10:13) The angel said in the next verse, "Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days." (10:14)
There is a pattern here. Daniel knew the time to liberate the captives was at hand. All the signs were there, all the preconditions had been met, but the liberation had not yet come. He prayed, he waited and he prayed and he waited. The angel explained that he was delayed because he was locked in spiritual combat with the prince of Persia. Michael, the archangel assigned to the protection of Israel, was dispatched to help.
Note the appearance of Daniel's angel:
"Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude." (10:5-6)
Compare it to John's description of the appearance of Jesus Christ:
"And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters." (Revelation 1:13-16)
Daniel recorded his reaction when he saw the revealing Angel:
"Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. Yet heard I the voice of his words: and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground." (Daniel 10:7-8)
So did the Apostle John:
"And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: " (Revelation 1:17) Do you see any similarities? There are others.
Daniel's vision was for what would befall Israel in the last days. The first three chapters of the Revelation of Jesus Christ contain the outline of what would befall the Church, leading up to the Rapture.
Daniel's expectation of redemption from captivity for his people was held up by a spiritual battle between the revealing Angel and the Prince of Persia.
The Church is also expecting its redemption. Jesus told us that, "when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." (Luke 21:28)
We see the signs of the times, read the promises of Scripture regarding the Rapture of the Church, and we wait, as Daniel did.
Meanwhile, all around us, a great spiritual war is raging, spilling out into the flesh-and-blood world as a war between the Christian West and the Jews of Israel, against the forces of Islam, the Prince of Persia.
Scripture promises a special crown to those who study Bible prophecy and announce His coming. "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?" (1st Thessalonians 2:19)
It is one of only four crown rewards available to the believer at the Bema Seat, the others being; the crown of righteousness (2nd Timothy 4:8), the crown of life (James 1:12) and the crown of glory, (1 Peter 5:4) -- so it is a very significant reward.
"And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." (Daniel 12:9-10)
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