Jen

Q2. (Daniel 12:1) What will happen during the great distress of God's people? In what ways does this time seem to conform to the "great tribulation" spoken of in the New Testament? It will be a time of great trouble, misery and woe for Daniel's people. In the New Testament book of Revelation it is called the great tribulation. God bless! Jen Romans 15:13

1. (Daniel 11:36-45) What do we learn about the character of this Antichrist figure? What seems to be his prime motivations? What does he have to do with the land of Israel? 2 Timothy 3:1 says what people will be in last days. The Antichrist will be this multiplied exponentially. He will be controlled by Satan himself and who can plumb those depths. His prime motivation will be to satisfy his own hatred for God, Christ and His people and to exalt himself. The Jews will be his attraction to Israel. Israel belongs to the Jews and he will hate the Jews. He will meet his doom there and be thrown into the lake of fire where he belongs along with the false prophet when Jesus comes back. God bless! Jen Romans 15:13

Q4. (Daniel 11) What does this rehearsal of prophecy and history teach you about the world rulers and geopolitics of our own time? How does the “big picture” inform us about the events of our day? Do you believe that God knows and cares about the details of your country’s struggles and future? Are you praying for your country’s leaders? Nothing changes except leaders for the most part (an occasional benevolent one) get worse and worse. Mystery, intrigue, deception, arrogance, pride, boastfulness, self importance, power hungry describe so many leaders today. Like Nebuchanezzar they are allowed for a time by God who controls the universe by His command. Right now the Holy Spirit is still holding back the evil that is yet to come . And what is here now is bad enough. The "big picture" tells me that things are rolling forward to a set conclusion that conforms with scripture about conditions in end times. God is a personal God who does care about the events in the world and He cares about individuals. He is not willing that any should perish. Who is like our God? What an amazing God He is. He still works in the affairs of men and will to the end when His Son Jesus comes to reign. I do pray for our leaders however not as frequently as I should. This lesson has spurred me on to do better. God Bless! Jen Romans 15:13

Q3. (Daniel 11) What is your general impression of Daniel’s vision after reading the prophetic words matched by their historical fulfillment? What other Biblical prophecies can you think of that have been fulfilled so precisely? What does this teach you about God? This prophecy is amazing in its scope and detail. And it has been borne out in history so accurately that it leaves me in a sense of awe. It also amazes me that man in his arrogance so dislikes the things of God that he will attack this magnificent prophecy as being false rather than give praise to the God "who regulates the universe by the mighty power of His command. Hebrews 1:3". So to God this was not difficult, He knows all things. He doesn't have to go to school for years to learn, He doesn't have to practice His speech, He just is and does all things by His command. ' Nothing keeps Him awake at night' so to speak. What I think of is Isaiah 53. Our gentle, humble Savior who although He regulates the universe, allowed Himself to become of no account in man's eyes and nailed to a cross that He might save all who would come to Him. What a God, what a Savior. I am speechless because there are no words to describe. It is all heartfelt. Our God is awesome. That is a word I use only on God so I have one that is for Him alone. God Bless! Jen Hebrews 1:3

(Daniel 10:12-13) Why wasn't the angel messenger able to bring his message in a timely manner? Who resisted him? Who helped him? What does this teach us about prayer? About spiritual warfare? The angel was held up by the prince of the kingdom of Persia (a demonic spirit, an envoy of Satan). There is an intense battle going on in the universe that all our 'brilliant' minds cannot see. The angel from the Lord was held up about 3 weeks until Michael the archangel arrived to 'save the day'. The only way we can fight this battle is through prayer. We are to pray with intensity. I like the idea of a war room and it reminds me of Churchills bunker. It was intense. We think we are so smart and yet we dispel the biggest battle of all time. An epic battle against an unseen enemy and the angelic forces that battle this enemy. We can see many of the casualties, just go by a cemetery, read the current news, the archives of long ago and see about this the longest battle in history. And we dismiss it! Unbelievable! God Bless! Jen Numbers 6:24-26

Q1. (Daniel 10: 3, 7-11, 15-17) Daniel is old, but why does the vision affect him so greatly? What is the physical effect on him? What is the mental and spiritual effect on him? Why is spiritual “work” so taxing on us? Daniel had already been in mourning for three weeks over the spiritual state of the the captives in Babylon and the lack of concern in their hearts about returning to Palestine. They had grown accustomed to the life of ease in Babylon, many had forgotten about the God of their forefathers. And those who had returned were experiencing great trouble by their enemies. Daniel on the other hand was a man of great passion for the things of God and was distressed by both situations. Our bodies react to extreme situations or prolonged endurance. Daniel who is in his 90's at this point would already tire more easily. God could have given this vision to a younger man however I think there was no one like Daniel. So Daniel had been praying and fasting as was his custom, this highly esteemed man of God, when the vision came. All others around him fled with terror and Daniel was left alone with this angel. Daniel had no strength left. The things of God leave us drained, physically, mentally and emotionally and a lesser man would not have stood, if possible he would have fled. We have no strength on our own for the things of God. Any we have comes from God. We have no power on our own. Any we have is given us by God to work out His will. Those who desire power on this earth are in a state of delusion that they have power. The only power they have apart from God is to do evil and that is only because He allows it for a time. Let us bow before the God of power and plead our cases with Him as did Daniel. Our God who is powerful listens to those who are humble before Him. God Bless! Jen Psalm 62:11

Q4. Why do you think Daniel’s visions and prophecies have been an encouragement to Christians throughout the centuries when they are undergoing severe persecution? They are suffering for the One they love. He is in control and victory is His (and ours). "there's victory in Jesus our Savior Forever, He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood." God Bless! Jen Romans 15:13

Q3. (Daniel 9:24-27) Why do you think there are so many interpretations of Daniel's vision of the Seventy Sevens? What is your interpretation of the various key parts of the vision? Some of this is not set in stone and there will be differing thoughts on the matter. I cannot help and wonder if God is looking down on us and maybe laughing at how set in stone we are at something that is not set in stone. Also I believe He gave in us the desire to search the scriptures and to explore the mysteries. It is rather exciting. I believe in the pretrib rapture of the church, however all though I never knew the timing I never thought I would see what is going on today. It is distressing to see the terrible suffering, the straying away from the faith among other things. God's timing is perfect and He wants no one to perish. So we are in the end just to trust in Him who is faithful and just. God Bless! Jen Romans 15:13 Remember "What a mighty God we serve, heaven and earth adore Him, angels bow before Him, what a mighty God we serve."

Q2. (Daniel 9:24-27) Why do you think people fight with each other over the interpretation of difficult Bible passages? According to Romans 14:1-5, what should be our attitude towards those who disagree with us on the non-essentials of the faith? If we are fighting over difficult Bible passages it is arrogance on our part and having to be right. I think it better to lay out our views and why with an open mind to others because none of us knows it all. We should be more concerned with living each day with an aim to walk godly in Christ Jesus, to grow in grace, to love our neighbor, to be helpful, kind, that our speech would be gracious (isn't that kinder than trying to prove I am right?). I have my views however I am open to listening to others who have well thought out opinions also. I wonder if God doesn't leave some of the pieces of the puzzle out so that we cannot get too puffed up. Won't it be wonderful when we all get to heaven and look at each other in love and maybe sometimes I was right, maybe sometimes they were right and maybe sometimes we were all wrong and God had something better in mind than we could have imagined. Our attitude towards those who disagree with us on the non-essentials of the faith should be one of love toward a brother or sister in the faith. And I am wondering who is to say one is weaker than the other. Certainly not me. God Bless! Jen Romans 15:13

Q1. (Daniel 9:24) In what ways can we find in Jesus the fulfillment of the six tasks found in verse 24? To finish transgression To put an end to sin She will give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus because He will save His people from their sins. Matthew 1:21 To atone for wickedness The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 1 John3:8 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and not only ours but also the whole world 1 John2:2 To bring in righteousness everlasting By His knowledge my righteous servant will justify and bear their iniquities Isaiah 53:11 To seal up the vision and prophecy To authenticate by accomplishing all that God revealed to Jeremiah, the focus of Daniel's prayer To anoint the most holy The anointing of the Annointed One Jesus the Messiah Matthew12:6 God Bless! Jen Romans 15:13

Q3. (5:14-16) In the healing prayer, what is the role of oil? What is the role of the prayer of faith? What is the role of faith? What is the role of confession of sins? Oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit God can honor a prayer that has true faith in Him. Faith is sort of the backbone of our Christian life. Without it we have nothing firm or solid to stand on. I truly believe that there is a strong link between sin and our health. I am not saying that all sickness is sin related however like the proverb says A joyful heart is good medicine. They all correlate. Our mind can affect our health and our health can affect our mind. That is why confession and faith are so important to our lives and health. God Bless Jen Numbers 6:24-26

Q2. (5:5-6) What is the spiritual danger of our demand for comfort and luxury? Extra credit: How might our demand for low-priced goods and services cause us to (1) oppress our own employees or (2) cause workers in this country or abroad to be under paid or oppressed? How does all this relate to the need for patience? Our demand for luxury and comfort come from a heart that is not focused on God but on the world and what it offers. If we are patient God loves to provide our needs + some, but when our hearts are right. God Bless! Jen Numbers 6:24-26

Q1. (4:1-3) Is God against pleasure? What wrong in living to increase one's pleasure? No We should be living to increase His pleasure in us, not for our own pleasure. God Bless Jen Numbers 6:24-26

Q4. (3:17-18) With what tool do peacemakers sow peace? Why does this produce a ripening crop of righteousness? In whom does this crop grow? Love If we have God's love in us we will grow in love for God and others and not desire the work of the flesh. We will desire to live righteously through the help of the Holy Spirit to please our Lord. Love that is not selfish grows in the redeemed heart through the work of the Holy Spirit. God bless! Jen Numbers 6:24-26

Q3. (3:13-16) In what ways are "bitter envy" and "selfish ambition" (3:14) direct opposites of "humility" (3:13)? How does denial of "bitter envy" and "selfish ambition" prevent healing? How does boasting about these prevent healing? Bitter envy and selfish ambition is about self, humility is about others If we deny the problem we cannot fix the problem. Either we don't see it or we don't want to but you cannot fix what you don't acknowledge as needing fixing. When we boast about envy and ambition we are not repentant and not desirous of healing. God Bless Jen Numbers 6:24-26

Q2. (3:7-8) Read Matthew 12:34 and 15:18. In light of these verses, why is the tongue untamable? What has to happen before it can be tamed? Our tongue defines what is in our heart. Therefore if we have an evil heart our words will be evil. Only a heart transformation can change the tongue and that comes when the Holy Spirit resides in us as believers. God bless Jen Numbers 6:24-26

Q1. (3:1-2) Why does James discourage people from aspiring to be teachers of the Word? Why is greater strictness appropriate? Should you set higher standards for your pastor than you do for yourself? teachers are held to a higher standard because they are endeavoring to teach others. Therefore they should know what they are taking about. They will be judged more harshly as teaching the Word of God is indeed a very serious commitment. We should keep our pastors and teachers in prayer always. In teaching area I set higher standards for my pastor because he has been trained. In living areas I set high standards for myself since I am an ambassador for my Lord. God bless Jen Numbers 6:24-26

Q4. (Daniel 9:15-19) What was Daniel’s essential prayer? What are the various grounds of Daniel’s appeal? How did God answer the prayer (see Daniel 9:20-23)? Daniel's essential prayer was confession and undeserved mercy His grounds were 1 God's precedent (bringing the people out of Egypt) 2 God's glory 3 God's righteousness 4 God's personal identification with Jerusalem Daniel got a response without equal. God sent Gabriel to give Daniel insight and understanding and the way was opened for the people to return to their land. All praise and glory go to our God to whom there are no words to describe His greatness. God Bless Jen Numbers 6:24-26

3. (Daniel 9:5) Since Daniel is such a righteous man in his generation, why does he identify himself with the sins of his people? He didn't commit these sins. How does this compare to how Jesus sought forgiveness for his people. He identified with the people and therefore with the sin of his people. Daniel, a righteous man, was still a man with a sin nature. Although he did not commit those sins he identified with them as part of the nation, part of the national sin. As Daniel worshipped God he knew his own position with God, as well as the position of the people of Israel. Like Isaiah he saw the blackness of his heart next to holy God. Jesus, God Himself, came to earth to identify with us and to bare our sins for us. As Daniel interceded for his people, Jesus lives forever to intercede for His people. As Daniel's people were brought out of Babylon (all who would), so we have been brought out of the kingdom of darkness and into the kingdom of God's dear Son by His death on the cross. For we are not of those who shrink back but of those who believe and are saved. God Bless! Jen Romans 5:1

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Q2. (Daniel 9:3-4a) What is Daniel's demeanor as he prays? How does he prepare? Why is this so important in this case? In what ways might you and I prepare for intercession? 1 Abject humility He set his mind toward the Lord, in others words nothing else matters and at all costs. 2 He prepares with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. Fasting keeps the mind focused and also acknowledges we have done nothing to even deserve the food we eat. He took off his royal robes and put on sackcloth, in other words he is saying there is no importance in him, only in God and God alone. Ashes are a sign of grief for our sins or the sins of our people. This was not done just for tradition or appearance, this WAS Daniel's heart before God. 3. This was important so that God would hear his prayer. psalm 66:18. 4 We might shut off our phones, turn off the tv, turn of the buzzer for the laundry, turn off the music. What a different world we live in in many ways yet in many ways the same with many distractions and the principle for preparing is the same, Set our minds toward God, taking off our self-righteous nonsense, maybe put on some of last years 'rags' said facetiously, forget the coffee and pastry before, during, and after prayer meeting. perhaps postrate ourselves on the floor to acknowledge who it is we are coming before (as He knows our hearts anyway), to accord Him the honor He deserves. God Bless! Jen Psalm 68:18

Q1. (Daniel 9:1-2) What encourages Daniel to seek God for the forgiveness and restoration of Israel to its homeland? What practice on Daniel’s part leads him to pray? Daniel was searching the scriptures as was his custom and in Jeremiah 25:12 he found the verse which told of the restoration to the homeland of the Jews after 70 years. As was his custom or practice Daniel prayed to his God about it. He prayed every day three times a day and often more. He was a man of prayer. God bless! Jen Romans 15:13

Q6. (Daniel 5:22-24) In the New Testament, Jesus doesn't present God as legalistic, but as holy -- "hallowed be thy name." We are to be God-fearers. How do Christians commonly act irreverently in ways that would offend God? How have you changed your ways to conform to God's holiness? We take lightly the things of God, His name, communion, His Word, spending time with the One who loved us and gave Himself for us, we are rude to each other, we do not love, we do not give, we do not give glory to God, we do not 'carry our brother', the list goes on. Praise God I am confident of this, He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6. The Holy Spirit is working to change me. God Bless Jen Romans 15:13

Q5. (Daniel 4:34-35) What does Nebuchadnezzar's confession tell us about God? Have you ever given a public testimony of what you have learned about God through your trials? What might your testimony sound like? God is eternal God's kingdom never ends God cannot be compared with human beings God is sovereign God is "King of heaven" God is accountable to none My public testimony might sound like Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of Christ. Philippians 1:27 This is something I am still learning how to do as I grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. God Bless! Jen Romans 15:13

Q4. (Daniel 4:30; 5:18-21) How does pride show itself in Nebuchadnezzar's life? In what ways does it show up in your life? Pride is tricky. How can pride mask itself with humility? ​I can just see Nebuchadnezzar walking around on his roof glorying in all 'his' achievements. It reminds me of the story in the gospels (Luke 12:20) where the rich man says I have all I need and I have done this and that and my barns are filled, and the Lord says this very night your soul will be required of you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself. It also reminds me of the AARP commercial with the lady in her 60's walking down a path and very confidently saying I have a long life ahead of me and plenty of plans without a thought of God or any calamity befalling her. Pride has a way of showing up in all our lives, we go around speaking humble and then some boastful thought comes into our mind about how good we are. We have an incurable disease while we are on this earth with our sin nature and if we are not mindful in the things of God, confessing, prayer, reading the Word we are going to fall. God Bless! Jen Numbers 6:24-26