Shalom dear brothers and sisters. Will you please open your Bibles to the book of Daniel? And we will continue in this ministry meeting with Daniel chapter 6 verses 18 to 28. We have already covered the first 17 verses of Daniel chapter 6, and please follow me as I'm reading from verse 18 to the end of the chapter. And in this portion of the Word of God, we have Daniel's deliverance from the lions. And so we read in verse 18. Then the king went to his palace and passed the night fasting. Neither were instruments of music brought before him, and his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel. And the king said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continuously, able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live forever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouth, that they have not hurt me, forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me. And also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt? Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den.

So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no matter of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions. Then, their children, and their wives, and the lions, had the mastery of them, and break all their bones in pieces, or ever they came at the bottom of the den. Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth, peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, and steadfast forever.

And his kingdom, that which shall not be destroyed. And his dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth. Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions? So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. And I will stop here, beloved brothers and sisters, with verse 28 of Daniel chapter 6. Interesting that in this sixth chapter, we all remember we have moved from the Babylonian kingdom, which came to an end at 539 BC, when Belshazzar, the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, had made his feast. And then the judgment of God came upon him, when he pronounced the judgment.

Mene, Mene, Mene, Tekel Ufarsin. And the judgment of God came upon him, when the Medo-Persians came in, and entered into the city of Babylon, and took over the whole city. And ultimately the whole Babylonian empire came to an end. And at the end of chapter 5, we learn of the death of King Belshazzar. He died, he was slain, but Darius, the Midian, received the kingdom, being 62 years old. So, we have Darius, the king who received the kingdom, the province of Babylon. He reigned over the province of Babylon. He received the ruling over the province of Babylon within the empire of the Medo-Persian. When the Babylonian empire came into an end, and now the Medo-Persian, in chapter 6, began their empire status.

And it was, of course, Cyrus, the king of Persia, who ruled. Under him, we have here Darius, in Hebrew, Darius, who was really the king over the province of Babylon, which was under the whole empire of the Medo-Persian empire. By the end of Daniel, chapter 6, we read, So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. In other words, Darius reigned over the province of Babylon, which was part now of the empire, the Medo-Persian empire, which King Cyrus was the one that was prominent, beginning with 539 BC, when Babylon was completely taken over by the Medo-Persian. And you can see how interesting, because now we have a new empire, the empire of the Medo-Persian.

And you can see how God's plan during the times of the Gentiles come to fruition in the history of humanity. As God has mentioned this to Daniel in chapter 2, instructing Nebuchadnezzar of the image that he has seen, the image of the head of gold, and the breast and arms of silver, the belly and the thigh of brass, the legs of iron, and the feet, partly iron and partly clay, and then the stone, which is the Messiah, at the end of the age, will destroy completely the kingdom, the revived Roman Empire. And ultimately, he, the Mashiach, Yeshua, the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, will rule and reign over this world.

And Israel as a nation will be restored to the Lord as the times of the Gentiles will come to its fulfillment. So, we have already began in the first part, in the first 17 verses of Daniel chapter 6, and we have learned what Darius have done. He has been lied to by his wise men in his kingdom, these princes and presidents, and those that came to accuse Daniel, the presidents, the governors, the princes, the counselors, and the captains, they consulted together, and they wanted to find fault in Daniel, and they were successful because they beguiled Darius by telling him to make a petition that whoever will not come to him with a request to pray to his or her own God must be, first of all, go through Darius.

And if he or she will not go through Darius for 30 days, they will be cast into the lion's den. And sure enough, they were successful. They influenced Darius, the king of the province of Babylon under the Medo-Persian kingdom, to make this decree. Then, when Daniel, the godly man, the man of God, the man that came from Judea, and now he is much older. Time has passed by from 6 or 5 BC when he was a teenager. And now 539, 538 BC. Years have passed by. He must be much older than when he first came. Many years have passed by. At least 45 years or so passed by. And if he was about 15, he is now about 60 or so years of age.

And he was praying three times a day, directing his prayer to the city of Jerusalem, towards the temple that once stood in the city of Jerusalem. And here we find Daniel was accused. And these presidents and governors and princes and counselors and captains were successful in beguiling Darius. And when they seen Daniel praying to his own god, they mentioned it to Darius. And he, who made a decree which cannot be changed, cast Daniel to the lion's den. But remember, beloved brothers and sisters, we have already read in these earlier verses in Daniel chapter 6, And Darius was sorely displeased within himself because he loved Daniel apparently.

Daniel was a godly man, a faithful man, but he couldn't change. Darius couldn't change the decree. And so he sought to deliver Daniel, but he couldn't. And by the time that the day was over, the law of the Median Persian made it necessary for him to fulfill that which he signed with his signet. And then he had to cast Daniel into the lion's den. And you remember, beloved brothers and sisters and dear friends, we read in verses 16 and 17 of this chapter 6, Then the king commended, and they brought Daniel, and they cast him into the den of lion. Now the king spake, and he said unto Daniel, Yes, imagine, as they cast Daniel into the lion's den, the king came to Daniel, and he said to him, Thy God, whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.

This is verse 16 of our chapter. And then they placed a stone, and it was laid upon in the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet, as well as with the signet of his lords. Those lords are those presidents and governors and princes, those counselors and captains who wanted Daniel to be put away, being jealous of him, and accused him falsely. And now they were pleased because finally he is in the lion's den. And so, beloved brothers and sisters, now we come to the second half of Daniel chapter 6, verses 18 to 28. And so we read, beloved brothers and sisters, in verses 18 to 24, the concern of King Darius for Daniel.

Amazing to see how this man of God, Daniel, was able to build a relationship with King Darius, as he built a relationship with the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar. These kings somehow found favor in this man by the name of Daniel, as well in the other Jewish boys, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael. And therefore, the presidents and governors and princes and counselors were jealous over them. And they sought to find something to cause them to stumble and to be put away from this high position that they receive from King Darius, in the case of Daniel here in chapter 6. And so we read now in these verses, 18 to 24, the concern of King Darius for Daniel.

You notice, after he placed the stone on the mouth of the den, after he had gone back to his home, notice what we read here in verse 18, that the king went to his palace and passed the night fasting. Notice that? Neither were instruments of music brought before him, and his sleep went from him. You notice three things we find here in verse 18. Number one, he passed the night by fasting. He lost, King Darius lost his appetite. He knew that he was a fool by allowing these presidents and governors and princes to beguile him, to trick him. He knew very well that Daniel was not guilty because Daniel served him faithfully.

He knew that because he also cared for Daniel. He wanted to promote Daniel and to set him over everyone. And we read already in the third verse of this chapter 6. Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king thought to set him over the whole realm. Well, the envy and the jealousy over these men was evident in what these godless princes and presidents and governors have done. They have gone to the extent to even lie and trick their own king in order to find fault in Daniel and set him aside. It's amazing how sad it is when wicked men are accusing those that seek to live for God.

You remember what Yeshua the Messiah said in John chapter 16. In this world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. In Israel's history. The constant persecution of the Jewish people is evident. And we can see it here as we are now presented the period of time that began with Nebuchadnezzar. The times of the Gentiles when the people of Israel, the Jewish people were in captivity. Though the godly from among Israel are used by God to be a blessing to the kings. But yet constant animosity. Constant envy. As it was in the day of Haman. The Agagite who wanted to do away with all the Jews because he was envious over Mordecai.

And others who would not bow their knees to them. How amazing it is that the scripture teaches us the sinfulness of sin. And the evil that is existing in the heart of one of men. And so we read, beloved brothers and sisters, these three things. Number one, he lost his appetite. That night he was fasting. Number two, he didn't want any musical instrument to be brought before him. Because he didn't want anything to make him cheerful. Why? Because he was sorely displeased as we have it in verse 14. Then the king, when he heard these words, he was so displeased with himself. And he set his heart on Daniel to deliver him.

And he labored even until going down of the sun, but he couldn't deliver him. He made this decree he must follow through with it. And the third thing we find out in verse 18, that the king lost not only his appetite, not only his joy or his happiness, but he lost his sleep. He couldn't sleep. He couldn't sleep. You see, he couldn't sleep because he knew very well that something wrong was done here to the one that served him faithfully. And because of this, he lost his appetite, he lost his happiness, and he lost his sleep. That's what will happen to anyone that will be deceived and not act in a proper and a true way.

Well, notice that we read in Psalm 77 and verse 4, that God, of course, was the one that was causing him to lose his appetite, to lose his happiness, and to lose his sleep. In Psalm 77 verse 4, we read, "Thou holdest mine eyes waking; I am so troubled that I cannot speak." In other words, this is what the psalmist Asaf said when God was dealing with him. And you can see with any man that will violate God's word, his conscience will be troubling him, and that would happen to King Darius. So we read in verse 19, that now King Darius rose very early to go to see what happened to Dali.

In other words, he didn't eat the whole night. He was joyless, unhappy, and sorrowful all night. He couldn't sleep, though he laid in his own bed the whole night. But now he was getting up from bed, according to verse 19, Then the king arose very early in the morning. He waited for the night to pass. And now that he fulfilled his requirement concerning the punishment for the one that have asked other gods, instead of through him in prayer. And so now that he cast Daniel into the lion's den, now he did so, so he assumed that if he was casting to the lion's den, that maybe there would be an end.

But he hoped, and he actually mentioned this to Daniel. In other words, he had this belief in the God of Daniel. And so he is rising up early in the morning from bed, and he went in haste to the den of lion. He was very quick, long before others have risen. He is up and he is running to the mouth of the den to see what happened to Daniel, hoping, as he had already had this assurance with the limit amount of knowledge of the true and living God of Israel, the true and living God of Daniel that he had. But yet, the hope was that this God delivered Daniel from the lions.

And so he is going to the lions' den in haste. And notice what we read in verse 20, beloved brothers and sisters. When he arrived to the den, he cried with lamentable voice unto Daniel. Notice this expression, lamentable voice unto Daniel. He was really hoping in the depth of his heart that everything is well with Daniel, that Daniel is still alive, that he is not harmed. And that lamentable voice shows the love and care and hope that he had in his heart that Daniel survived the night. And that God delivered him from the lions. And so you notice this, he is now crying to Daniel. In verse 20, we read, he is lamenting and he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel.

And the king speckled and the king speckled and said notice to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God whom thou servest continually able to deliver thee from the lions? Is thy God able, was he able to deliver thee from the lions? He cried there from the lion? He cried there to Daniel. Wonderful to see that, beloved brothers and sisters. What a question. What a question. What a question. And you notice what he calls Daniel? Very beautiful. He called Daniel a servant of the living God. The living God. The living God. Amazing to see this expression that he called to Daniel. Daniel.

In the Aramaic, it is chaya al-hacha. Elohim chayim in the Hebrew. And he's calling Daniel, notice, the servant. The servant. The Aramaic is Aved or Eved. It's the slave of the living God. Remind us of what we read of Moses, the servant of the Lord. Eved Adonai in Hebrew. Eved Yehovah. This is the slave of the Lord. We read of Joshua, the servant of the Lord at the end of Joshua chapter 24 when he died. We think even about the apostle Shaul Paul who called himself the servant of the Lord Jesus the Messiah. The Lord Yeshua HaMashiach. These are people who committed themselves to God. And even King Darius could sense this because of the way in which Daniel lived.

That he was indeed the servant. But not only the servant of God. But the servant of the living God. Beloved brothers and sisters. Wonderful to see there is a contrast between the living God and the dead idols. The idols that the pagan world worship. They are not living. They are dead. They are merely idols. They are silver and gold. The works of men's hands. They have mouths but they speak not. Eyes have they but they see not. They have ears but they hear not. Noses have they but they smell not. They have hands but they handle not. Feet have they but they walk not. Neither speak they through their throat.

They that make them are like unto them. So is everyone that trusteth in them. And so the psalmist continues and he speaks to Israel. He speaks to Israel and he said to Israel. O Israel trust thou in the Lord. He is their help and their shield. Wonderful to see there is a contrast of course beloved brothers and sisters. Between the living God that Daniel served as a servant. And the dead idols that are found here in a world of those who believe in false God. The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians chapter 10. And he said to the Corinthians in verse 21. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons.

Ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table and the table of demons. In other words you see he is mentioning there the false idols. The false the demons. These are that which is contrary to the will of God. Later on the apostle Yohanan John also challenged the believers to whom he wrote in 1 John chapter 5 and verse 21. Little children keep yourselves from idols. And so beloved brothers and sisters idols are nothing. Idolatry is that which is dead is not alive. But the God of Daniel who is a living God. And that even Darius the Mede could sense that and see it in the life of Daniel.

And therefore he asked him O Daniel servant of the living God is thy God whom thou service continually able to deliver thee from the lions. And so beloved brothers and sisters in verses 21 and 22 of these six chapter of Daniel with the topic of Daniel's deliverance from the lions. Here we see the response of Daniel to the king. Daniel was respectful. Daniel was preserved by God. Daniel was amazingly in a supernatural miraculous way. He was indeed sustained by God during a time such as this. And so we read in verse 21. Daniel said unto the king. O king live forever. Notice that. Daniel is still respecting the king.

A way whereby anyone who would approach those kings in those days would have to approach him with this expression. O king live forever. We see it in Daniel chapter 2. And in verse 4 in connection with Nebuchadnezzar. There we read. Then spake the Kaladins to the king in Syric. And he said O king live forever. In other words they came before the king. And they were expected to pronounce this statement. O king live forever. Also in chapter 3 as well. In verse 9 we do read. They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar. O king live forever. You can see that there is that custom or way in which one will present himself before these monarchs.

And so Daniel out of respect wishing him to live. Wishing him to have long life. Wishing him to turn to the God of heaven. To the God of Daniel. The God of Israel. And he is coming before him. And he said O king live forever. That's the answer that Daniel gives king Darius. From the den of lions. And so he continued. And he is showing him the confidence that he had in his God. And he said. My God has sent his angel. And has shut the lion's mouth. That they have not hurt me. For as much as before him. Innocency was found in me. And also before thee O king.

Have I done nor hurt. See how Daniel. Is expressing to king Darius. The reality he says look. In a miraculous way. My God. Notice the expression here. Beautiful expression. My God. My God. My God. Daniel had a relationship with the God of Israel. With the God of heaven. He was his God. He was not only the God of Israel. He was not only the God of heaven. He was not only the God of the universe. But as far as Daniel was concerned. And as far as Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael were concerned. Their God. God was their personal God. They believe in the God of heaven.

The God of Israel. This God is my God. Daniel is saying. My God. He's mine. And I'm his. My God. Sent his angel. Notice the expression. He sent his angel. To remind you, beloved brothers and sisters. As we have mentioned this many times. That angels. Were created by God as servants. They are serving God. But they're also serving the people of God. And that is the purpose that God have created. His ministering spirits. The angels. And in scripture. They are called ministering spirits. The Hebrew writer wrote. And he said in verse 14 of chapter 1. Are they not. Speaking of the angels. Are they not all ministering spirits.

Sent forth. To minister to them. Who shall be heirs of salvation. Speaking about the angels. God. So the angels. Are ministering spirits. And they. Plural. All the angels. Are called to be ministering spirits. In order that they will be sent by God. To do his bidding. And they will minister to the servants of the Lord. And to the people of the Lord. Every period of time. In human history. In human history. The angels. The ministering spirits. Have served their God. Faithfully. Of course. We know that there was a period of time. In which. Some of the angels. That were created by God. Had followed Lucifer.

And they became. What is known to us today. Demons. Fallen angels. That God will judge eternally. Eventually. And so. God sent his angel. And has shut the lion's mouth. It's amazing. The angel of God. Came. And in a miraculous way. He. Shut. The lion's mouth. He simply. Did not allow. The lion. To harm Daniel. And in a supernatural way. Beloved brothers and sisters. The angel. Simply. Shut the lion's mouth. And the lions. Plural. They did not have. A desire. To harm. Daniel. Because. In a supernatural way. The angel. Have shut. The lion's mouth. mouth. How God. Preserved. His own. People. And you know. Beloved brothers and sisters.

It is fascinating. To see. If you remember. That we read. How God. Preserved. His people. Think about Jonah. Jonah. Hanavi. Jonah the prophet. How he was. Cast. By the. Mariners. Into the ocean. Into the sea. And God. Prepared the fish. And the fish. Came. And he swallowed. Jonah. And Jonah. Was in the fish's belly. For three days. And three nights. And God. Preserved. Jonah. In the fish's belly. That Jonah. Will not be consumed. And then. After three days. He came. He was. Pushed out. By the fish. The great fish. And vomited. Daniel. Out. On the shore. And this. Event. That happened. Became a picture. And a type.

Of the death. And resurrection. Of our Lord. Jesus. Yeshua. The Messiah. As Jonah. Was three days. And three nights. In the fish's belly. So must the son of man. Be three days. And three nights. In the heart. Of the earth. And Jonah. In a miraculous way. Was preserved. By God. To serve. To be. A picture. Of the. Messiah. Yeshua. The Lord. Jesus. The Messiah. Who will. Die. Will be. Buried. And will rise. Again. But the lesson. Is tremendous. That God. In a miraculous way. Preserving. His. Servant. Think of. Hanoch. Enoch. Who walked. With God. And he. Pleased. God. So much. And he fulfilled. The purposes.

Of God. And we read. That Enoch. What we walk. We walk. With God. And he. Was not. Because in a miraculous way. God. Took him. And God. Took him. To his. Present. Wonderful. To see. That God. Preserving. His people. He preserving. His people. And beloved. Brothers and sisters. God. Is preserving. Daniel. He preserving. The remnant. Of Israel. For the future day. In which he will restore them. And so we read. If you remember. In Isaiah. Chapter 43. But now. Thus says the Lord. That created thee. O Jacob. And he. That formed thee. O Israel. Fear not. For I have redeemed thee. I have called thee. By my name.

Thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters. I will be with thee. And through the rivers. They shall not overtake thee. When thou walkest through the fire. Thou shall not be burned. Neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Why? For I am the Lord thy God. The Holy One of Israel. Thy Savior. I gave Egypt for thy ransom. Ethiopia. And Siba for thee. Since thou was precious in my side. Thou has been honorable. And I have loved thee. Therefore will I give men for thee. And people for thy life. And so God had promised. That he will deliver his people ultimately. And just beloved brothers and sisters realize.

That what we see here. In the experiences of Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael. In Daniel chapter 3. When they were cast into the fire. And here in Daniel chapter 6. When Daniel were cast into the lion's den. The furnace of fire. And the lion's den became a spiritual lesson. And you might say typical message of the fact that God will protect his people of Israel. The Jewish people. Even during time of trouble such as this. My God sent his angel. And it shut the lion's mouth. That they have not hurt me. In other words. He was preserved by the Lord in a supernatural way. Let me just read you a verse or two.

With respect to the Jewish people. During the tribulation period. Beloved brothers and sisters. The book of Daniel. The book of Daniel. Is specifically dealing. With events that will occur during the times of the Gentiles. When the Jewish people. Will have to lose for a season. A long season. The privilege of reigning and ruling. And enjoying God. And being a blessing to the world. When they are under God. In obedience to him. And so. Because. Of this. They. Turn away from the Lord. Because their disobedience. God had taken the kingdom from Israel. And had handed it over to the Gentiles. And so. The times of the Gentiles began.

During the time of Daniel. 6 or 5 BC. 597 BC. 586 BC. These dates are important. Because. During these dates. Nebuchadnezzar. Three times came. And he took captive. The Jewish people. Away from Jerusalem. From Israel. To the land of Babel. And in 586 BC. He burned the temple in Jerusalem. And then. Was. The. Kingdom. Handed over. To the nations. Of the world. Well. When the church age. Will come to its fruition. And the church. Will be raptured. And we. Who are part of the bride. Of the Messiah. Bride of Christ. Will be. Ushered. To the presence of the Lord. To meet him in the air. There will be the tribulation period.

The Jewish people. The people of Israel. Will remain here. Still partially in unbelief. We live. And God. Is going to be fine. The people of Israel. And they will experience. A lion's den experience. A furnace of fire experience. During the tribulation period. And even then. Beloved brothers and sisters. The Lord. In a miraculous way. Will preserve them. Listen to the word. That we read. In Revelation. Chapter 12. In the middle. Of the tribulation. Where Satan. Will be cast down. To this earth. Verse 6 says. And the woman. Fled into the wilderness. And she has a place. Prepared. Of God. The woman. Is Israel. That they should feed her.

There. A thousand. Two hundred. And. Sixty days. Three and a half years. Verse 7. And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels. Fought against the dragon. And the dragon fought. And his angels. And prevailed not. Neither was their place. Found anymore. In heaven. And a great dragon. Was cast out. That old serpent. Called the devil. And Satan. Which deceivers. The whole world. He was cast out. Into the earth. And his angels. Were cast out. With him. This is the middle. Of the tribulation. Period. Terrible days. That will be here. For Israel. And for all the nations. Of the world. Satan. Will be cast down.

To earth. His demons. Will be cast down. To earth. Earth. Will be. What is called. Hell. On earth. And we read. In verse 10. Of Revelation. Chapter 12. And I heard a loud voice. Saying. In heaven. Now is come. Salvation. And strength. And the kingdom. Of our God. And the power. Of his Christ. For the accuser. Of our brethren. Is cast down. Which accuses. Them. This is namely. The Jewish people. The nation of Israel. In Israel. Accusing them. Before our God. Day and night. But. We read. They overcame. Him. By the blood. Of the land. And by the word. Of their testimony. And they loved. Not their lives.

Unto the death. Therefore. Rejoice. Ye heaven. And ye. That dwell. In them. Woe. Unto the inhabitants. Of the earth. And of the sea. For. The devil. Is come. Down. Unto you. Having great rest. Why? Because. He knows. That he has. But a show. Time. And so. The dragon. Verse 13. Saw. That. That he was cast. Unto the earth. He persecuted. A woman. Just like. Daniel. Was persecuted. Just like. The. Hanani. And Azara. And Mishael. Were cast. Into the. The devil. Is. Now. Persecuting. Israel. Persecuting. The woman. And he knows. That he had. But a. Short. Time. Because when. Israel. Will say. Blessed. Is he. That cometh.

In the name. Of the Lord. When. Israel. Will say. Baruch. Habah. B'Shem. Adonai. This will be. The end. The devil. Will acknowledge. Yet. Yeshua. Jesus. Is the Messiah. The devil. To fruition. And beloved. Brothers. And sisters. The woman fled. As we read here. In verse 14. Her place. Where there. She was nourished. For time. And times. And half a time. For three and a half years. And the serpent. Cast out. Of his mouth. Water. Of a flood. This is military invasion. After the woman. That he might. That he might. Cause her. To be carried away. Of the flood. And the earth. Helped. The woman. And the earth.

Opened. Her mouth. And swatted up. The flood. Which the dragon. Cast out. Of his mouth. Brothers and sisters. In a miraculous way. God will preserve. Israel. During the tribulation. In a miraculous way. God preserved. Hanani and Azara. And Mishael. In the furnace of fire. In a miraculous way. God preserved. Daniel. In the lion's den. Man. This is fascinating. To learn this. The lesson. That we learn. In the history. Of. Daniel. And Hanani. And Azara. And Mishael. Is a. Not only. In. Personal. Experiences. That they've had. But they became. You might say. Mashal. A parable. An example. A lesson. To show us. How God. In a miraculous way.

Will protect. The Jewish people. Doing. The tribulation. Day. And so. It's wonderful. We could read. Continuously. All the way. To the end. Of the chapter. Chapter 13. As well. Of Revelation. But. Let us go back. To our. Sixth chapter. Of Daniel. My God. Has sent. His angel. And. Hath. Shut. The lion's. Mouth. They have not hurt me. Why? Listen. Because. Notice. For as much. As before him. This is. Before God. Innocency. Was found in me. Secondly. And also. Before thee. O king. Have I. Done. No hurt. Doesn't it. Remind us. Of the. Desire. Of the apostle. Paul. Shaul Paul. Who mentioned. Who mentioned. This. When he.

Was also. Before. The governor. In Acts. Chapter 24. And. Verse. 14. There. Notice. When he. Was. Before. Felix. In. Verse 14. Paul. Shaul. Mentioned. Before. Felix. He. Said. To him. But. This. I. Confess. Unto. The. That. After. The. Which. They. Call. Heresy. So. Worship. I. The. God. Of. My. Fathers. Notice. Shaul. Paul. Is. Expressing. To. Felix. The. Governor. That. He. Was. Always. Worshiping. The. God. Of. My. Fathers. The. God. Of. Israel. Believing. All. Things. Which. Are. The. Law. And. In. The. Prophets. And. Have. Hope. Towards. God. Which. They. Themselves. Also. Allow. That. There. Shall. Be. A. Resurrection. Of. The. Unjust. Paul. Continued. To. I. Also. Was. Revealed. That.

There. Is. A. Resurrection. Of. The. He. Saying. To. The. Governor. Felix. And. So. Notice. What. Paul. Says. How. He. Exercises. His. Conscience. In. Verse. Sixteen. Of. Sixteen. And. Herein. Do. I. Exercise. Myself. To. Have. Always. Conscience. Void. Of. Offense. Towards. God. And. Conscience. Void. Of. Offense. Towards. Men. Let. Me. Reread. You. Verse. Sixteen. And. Therein. Do. I. Exercise. Myself. To. Have. Always. A. Conscience. Void. Of. Offense. Toward. God. And. Toward. Man. Just. As. Daniel. Daniel sought to do so in his life. He said, for as much as before him, before God, innocency was found in me, and also before thee, men, king, O king, have I done no hurt.

That's why God delivered me. My God has sent an angel, his angel's hand has shut the lion's mouth. They could not hurt me, because I am innocent. So, beloved brothers and sisters, wonderful lesson to learn here. And then verse 23, of course, then was the king exceeding glad. Notice the difference. In verse 14, when he realized that he was beguiled by his presidents and governors and princes, setting a decree, he, notice it said in verse 14, he was so displeased within himself. But now, King Darius was exceeding glad for him, and he commanded the day, should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him.

Notice that, because he believed in his God. What a testimony, beloved brothers and sisters. He believed in his God. In chapter 3, and verse 17, we read, concerning the Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael, we read, if it be so, our God, they said to Nebuchadnezzar, whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. That's what Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael have said. Here we can see, beloved brothers and sisters, that because Daniel believed in his God, he was delivered out of the lion's mouth. How is it possible? It is a miracle. How is it possible that God preserved Hananiah, and Azariah, and Mishael, in a furnace of fire?

That was a miracle. How is it possible that Israel, the nation, now surviving, and it's maintained, the Jewish people, throughout the last 2,000 years, even of church history? It is a miracle. And how will Israel, ultimately as a nation, will be restored to God at the end of the times of the Gentiles? It is a miracle. How Satan's animosity toward the Jewish people to seek to make an end of them because he doesn't want God's promises to be fulfilled, how he will not succeed, and how they will survive their tribulation period? It is a miracle. It is a miracle, but this miracle is promised by God, beloved brothers and sisters, and we must understand it.

We must understand it, that God, in His grace, in His plan, in His program, He will sustain the people of Israel because He has a plan for the nation of Israel, for the blessing of this world. Jeremiah said, Jeremiah said, in Jeremiah 30, and then verse 7, Alas, for that day is great, so that none is like it. It is even the time of Jacob's trouble, tribulation. But, God continued to say through Jeremiah, He shall be saved out of it. He, this is Jacob. He, this is Israel. He, this is, the Jewish people will be saved out of it. See Paul, as well, in the Brit HaChadasha, in the New Covenant, when he was writing to the Romans, he reminded the Romans as well, and this is so important to see the context of this book of Daniel in relationship to the plan of God for the people of Israel.

Paul said, For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceit, that blindness in part happened to Israel, until, Romans 11, 25, until, until when? Until what? Until the fullness of the Gentiles become in, until the full numbers of Gentiles become in, part of this assembly of the church of the present day age, dispensation in which we live in. And when that day will come to an end, Romans 11, 26, and so all Israel shall be saved. And they will be saved as a nation at the end of the tribulation, as it is written. It is written in the word of God.

There shall come out of Zion the deliverer and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. Verse 27 of Romans 11, For this is my covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins. Amazing! God preserved in a supernatural way Daniel in the lion's den. My God have sent an angel and he preserved me here. So we continue now in the next verses, beloved brothers and sisters, because Daniel believed God he was preserved. And you and I are preserved by grace today. Every day of our life, God preserving his people today. You and I were part of the assembly these days. Amazing! The grace of God he preserved us and he will preserve the assembly.

The gates of Hades will not prevail against the church, against the assembly. Matthew chapter 16. This is the promise of the Lord Jesus the Messiah. And so we read in verse 24, And the king commended and they brought those men which had accused Daniel. Now notice this. The men that accused Daniel were cast into the den of lions. Now what do you think will happen to them? Will they be sustained alive as Daniel was the whole night? Well listen to this. After casting them into the den of lions, it says they cast them, they cast their children, they cast their wives, verse 24, and the lions, notice that, had the mastery of them and break all their bones in pieces, notice, or ever, or before they came at the bottom of the den.

Beloved brothers and sisters, listen. The lions were hungry, but the angel shut the lion's mouth. The lions were hungry, but the angel of the Lord preserved Daniel from the lions. The lions were hungry, but the accusers of Daniel, their wives and children along with them, were cast into the very same den. And the lions did not even allow them to reach the ground. and before they even came to the bottom of the den, they have already break all their bones into pieces. Sad? Sad. But this is the consequence that God have allowed because of this wicked jealousy that existed in these people. And so, God have delivered the people of Israel in past days, he delivered Hananai and Azarai and Mishael, he delivered Daniel here in the sixth chapter, and he will ultimately deliver the people of Israel during the tribulation period, and will bring them into a restoration, restoration to himself and establish the future messianic kingdom.

Listen to what we read in Proverbs chapter 19 and verse 9. Proverbs 19 and verse 9. A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speak as lie shall perish, King Solomon said, Proverbs 19 and verse 9. This is very interesting verses. In other words, the wicked will be punished by the Lord. Eventually, the wicked will be punished. In Proverbs chapter 11, a bit earlier, in verse 9 we read, And hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbors, but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. Amazing. Amazing. So the hypocrite, with his mouth, he destroys his neighbors, speaking lies about somebody else, and he destroys his neighbors, but eventually he will be punished.

in Proverbs chapter 12 and verse 19 we read, The lip of truth shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. They lied for a moment, they were successful in deceiving the king, King Darius, but eventually they would lose out and they were punished by King Darius. Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8 and verse 28, For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to his purpose. He continued in verse 31 and he said, What shall we say then to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather that is risen again. Who is even at the right hand of God, who is also maketh intercession for us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? As it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long.

We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, the apostle Shaul Paul said, for I am persuaded that neither death, no life, no angels, no principalities, no powers, no things present, no things to come, no height, no depth, no any creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The love of God which is in Christ Jesus, in the Mashiach Yeshua our Lord. So, we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.

And Daniel said, my God has sent his angel and has shut the lion's mouth that they have not hurt me. And so, beloved brothers and sisters, in the last verses of Daniel, chapter 6, we read in verse 25 to verse 28, King Darius declares a new decree. And so, we read in verse 25, then King Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth, peace be multiplied unto you. He's introducing the new decree now that he seen the miracle that happened, how God, the living God, Daniel's God, the one that have sent his angels to protect Daniel from the lions. Now, Darius has seen it.

You can see that the language that he speaks here is a language of one that you might say have turned to believe in the God of Daniel, in the God of Israel. We do not know his heart, but some of the things that are mentioned here are fascinating. Notice what we read in verse 26 and 27. We have this eightfold declaration about Daniel's God. Eightfold declaration in verses 26 and 27 that the king Darius writing and declaring this to all his people, to all nations, and all languages of the province of Babylon which is now under the Middle Persian Empire. And so Darius is now writing and he says I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel for he is a living God and a steadfast forever and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

He delivers and rescueth he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

Notice beloved brothers and sisters the eightfold declaration that Darius declare and writing this new decree to all the people and nation the languages of the Babylonian province to Babylon the province of Babylon number number one everyone is to tremble before Daniel's God number two the reason is because he's a living God he's not a dead God he's a living God not like the idols of the nation number three he's steadfast forever forever number four his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed number five his dominion shall be even unto the end then he continue in verse 27 number six he delivers and rescueth number seven he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth

number eight he is the one who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions imagine this declaration beloved brothers and sisters amazing declaration that Daniel is now hearing Darius and all the peoples and the languages and the nations in the province of Babylonia they now hear this declaration and to remind you beloved brothers and sisters that it is an important principle to understand that God wanted everyone to understand that he is in full control he is the one that ruleth over the affairs of this world this is important to understand beloved brothers and sisters and as we read this testimony that Darius gave to the whole province of Babylon we are reminded of what

Nebuchadnezzar said and Daniel also had unfolded this before Nebuchadnezzar listen to what we read in Daniel chapter 4 and verse 17 this matter is by the decree of the watchers and we read and the demand by the word of the holy one to the intent that the living may know that the most high ruleth in the kingdom of man and giveth it to whomsoever he will and setteth up over it the basis of man that's what we read by the testimony of Nebuchadnezzar and here beloved brothers and sisters in verse 26 and 27 of our sixth chapter of Daniel derives the need declaring this to all people nations and languages and let me repeat these

two verses one more time chapter 6 verse 26 and 27 I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel for he is the living God and steadfast forever and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed and his dominion shall be even unto the end he delivers and rescueth and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lion and so indeed Daniel was delivered from the lion's mouth and it was all in a supernatural miraculous way which Daniel's God preserved Daniel from the lions who were in the den and so we read in

verse 28 and with this we conclude beloved brothers and sisters Daniel chapter 6 so this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian you notice Darius reigned at the same time when Cyrus the Persian reigned according to chapter 5 we have already read this in verse 31 that Darius the median took or received the kingdom being about three score and two years old 62 years old well he received the kingdom from king Darius so he was reigning alongside king Cyrus and king Cyrus was ruling over the whole empire of the middle Persian while Darius is the mid ruling over the province of Babylon which was now under the

kingdom of Persia and with this beloved brothers and sisters we have concluded Daniel chapter 6 may God give us the grace to follow after him and when trials coming in our life to trust him to help us along the way to sustain us as he sustained Daniel in his difficult days may God bless you my dear brothers and sisters as we study together the book of Daniel until the next time we will say Shalom Shalom you