ONE SCARY NIGHT !

       (Daniel 2 & 7)

Were you ever asleep

and awoke with a start

by a dream that seemed real

with some monster at your heel?

With a sudden surprise

as I opened my eyes

some giant-like screen

dropped down from the skies.

I sat there amazed

like a vision ablaze

there were beasts coming near

and I shuddered with fear.

there were lions and bears

with a leopard around

yet no one to rescue

no help to be found.

Then a monster-like Beast

indescribably cruel

with ten horns on it head

arose to its feet

and like Rome with its iron

in league with the clay

it was weakened in strength

and began to decay.

Looking closer I found

in the midst of its horns

a master-deceiver

proclaimed as the Christ

arose from this vision

like a demon from hell

and with wondrous signs

began to foretell

The world was amazed

that this leader from Rome

could so quickly arise

to Europe's gold throne

but a treaty of peace

was signed with the Jews

and the Temple was built

with deception it's ruse.

Then a Dragon was seen

with its fury unleashed

with destruction and death

causing pain and distress

knowing soon his demise

would reveal his disguise

with the kingdoms of earth

giving way to new birth.

Then a Stone could be seen

rolling down from a cliff

making scum of this Frame

bringing Nations to shame

for the word of His mouth

will make dust of this clod

and the earth will give birth

to the kingdom of God.

Then the heavens rejoiced

as the King took His throne

with the Bride at His side

who in Christ did atone

for a thousand year reign

the rule of His peace

will spread through the earth

and all wars will then cease.

--B. Pent

THE PROPHECY OF ZECHARIAH

INTRODUCTION: A Call To Repentance (1:1-6)

1. The Producer-Director: The LORD ALMIGHTY (v.1a)

2. The Main Actor: Zechariah, son of Berekiah, son of Iddo (v.1b)

3. The Plot: The Revelation of God’s Prophetic Plan (v.2-6)

4. The Setting: Israel: God’s Centerpiece

I. ACT 1: VISIONS OF FUTURE EVENTS (1:7-6:15)

    A. SCENE 1 -- (1:7-3:10)

1. The Horse & Rider (1:7-17) = The Angel of the LORD (pre-incarnate Christ)

2. The Four Horns (ruling powers (1:18-19)= Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome

3. The Four Workmen (1:20-21) = Divine agents sent to destroy these ruling powers

4. The Man With A Measuring Line (2:1-13)= Israel’s future restoration & deliverance

5. Re-clothing Of Joshua the High Priest (3:1-10)= Israel’s future cleansing

    B. SCENE 2 -- (4:1-6:15)

1. The Candlestick & 2 Olive Trees (4:1-14)= Israel’s witness during the Tribulation

2. The Flying Scroll (5:1-4) = Represents God's broken law and its consequence

3. The Woman in a Basket (5:5-11) = The Mystery of Lawlessness dates back to Babel

4. The Four Chariots (6:1-8) = The 4 Angels of the Apocalypse ride out in Judgment

5. The Crowning of Joshua (6:9-15)= Jesus Returns as King in Millennial Splendor

II. INTERMISSION (7:1-8;23) QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

    A. Questions about the Past (7:1-14)

    B. Questions about the Future (8:1-23)

III. ACT 2: VISIONS OF CHRIST’S RETURN

    A. SCENE 1 (Ch.9-11) His First Coming

1. Deliverance Promised (9:1-17)

2. Restoration Assured (10:1-12)

3. Offer Rejected (11:1-17)

    B. SCENE 2 (Ch.12-14) His Second Coming

1. Israel’s True Repentance (12:1-13:9)

2. Messiah’s Return & Reign (14:1-21; Rev.19:11-16)

THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES (Part I)

                     DANIEL 11:1-4

AS DANIEL ROSE TO VIEW THE SCENES
FROM GOD'S PRE-WRITTEN HISTORY COURSE
HE STOOD AMAZED AT WHAT HE SAW
THE FINAL WARS THAT END IT ALL.

THE HUB OF ALL PROPHETIC TRUTH
SURROUNDS THE PROMISE YAHWEH MADE
TO ISRAEL, THEIR ETERNAL HOME
SO SCATTERED JEWS CAN CALL THEIR OWN.

THE FIRST BRIEF CLIP TELLS OF FOUR KINGS
THAT SPRING FROM PERSIA'S RULING CLASS
CAMBYSES, SON OF CYRUS CAME
WITH PSEUDO-SMERDIS NEXT TO REIGN.

THEN DARIUS WHO USURPED THE THRONE
BY CLAIMING PROOF OF ROYAL BIRTH
ALLOWED THE JEWS THE TEMPLE WALLS
TO FINISH WHAT THAT PROMISE CALLS.

THEN XERXES WITH HIS WEALTH AND POWER
DESCRIBED IN ESTHER AS HIS QUEEN
INVADED GRECIAN STATES WITH FORCE
COMPLETING PROPHECY'S FIRST COURSE.

THE VERSES END BY POINTING OUT
A MIGHTY KING OF GRECIAN BIRTH
WHO'S CONQUERING POWER LIKE MIGHTY STEEDS
WERE MARKS OF ALEXANDER'S DEEDS.
--B. Pent

ISRAEL MY GLORY

                 



                    
                DANIEL 9:24-27
WHILE READING JEREMIAH'S SCROLLS
THE PROPHET SENSED THE TIME HAD COME
FOR JUDAH TO BE FREED AT LAST
FROM SOVEREIGN JUDGMENT FOR THEIR PAST.

THROUGH DANIEL'S INTERCESSORY PRAYER
WITH DEEP CONTRITION FOR THEIR GUILT
A BROKEN HEART BEFORE GOD'S THRONE
BECAME THE GIFT THAT WOULD ATONE.

THE ANGEL THEN REVEALED A PLAN
BY USING MULTIPLES OF YEARS
THE TIME OF CURSE WOULD FINALLY END
WITH PROMISED BLESSINGS TO ATTEND.

BEFORE THE CHART COULD BE EXPLAINED
THE ANGEL MADE IT VERY CLEAR
THE DUAL SUBJECTS OF HIS WILL
REFERRED TO JEWS AND ZION'S HILL.

THE WEEKS OF YEARS THAT STRETCHED THROUGH TIME
WILL BRING AN END TO WICKEDNESS
FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL CROWN THE LAND
WHEN GOD'S ANOINTED TAKES HIS STAND.

FOUR HUNDRED EIGHTY THREE LONG YEARS
BEGAN WITH BUILDING ZION'S WALL
BUT WHEN THE PRINCE, MESSIAH CAME
UPON THE CROSS HE HUNG IN SHAME.

THE PROPHET'S CLOCK THEN STOPPED IN TIME
AND SOON ROME'S FORCES CRUSHED "THE LAND."
BUT TWENTY CENTURIES NOW HAVE PAST
YET HATRED FOR THE JEWS STILL LAST.

THEN GOD REVEALED ONE FINAL WEEK
WHEN IN THE MIDST OF WORLD WIDE STRIFE
TEN NATIONS WILL ARISE TO CLAIM
THE KINGDOM ROME ONCE RULED WITH FAME.

THE BEAST WHO'S "LITTLE HORN"APPEARS
WILL BE THE COUNTERFEIT OF CHRIST
WHOSE SIGNS AND WONDERS ON DISPLAY
PROPELS HIM TO BE KING THAT DAY.

A TREATY SIGNED FOR SEVEN YEARS
BETWEEN THE ARABS AND THE JEWS
WILL MARK THE TRIBULATION START
BEFORE ALL NATIONS FALL APART.

THE ANTICHRIST WILL MOVE FROM ROME
AND CLAIM THE TEMPLE FOR HIS THRONE
WITH BROKEN TREATIES NOW IN TWO
HE'LL TRY TO KILL OFF EVERY JEW.

WHILE ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH
ARE GATHERING ON MEGIDDO'S PLAIN
THE WARRIOR KING FROM HEAVEN'S THRONE
WILL MAKE HIS AWESOME PRESENCE KNOWN.

WITH JUST ONE WORD AT HIS COMMAND
THE NATIONS UNDER ANTICHRIST
WILL ALL BE SWEPT FROM EARTH TO HELL
AS HIS PREDICTIONS DO FORETELL.--B. Pent

The Prophecy Of Zechariah
Zechariah 1:1-6 - A Call To Return To Yahweh

In vision clear the prophet saw
Invisible to man God's cosmic plan
Revealed in mystery's simple shapes
Ten awesome signs of global weight.

The drama on life's stage appeared
The sovereign Lord produced the plan
Four separate scenes before him passed
And then the Lord returned at last.

A call is heard before the start
"Return to Me with contrite heart
For Babylon's strength has been removed
And grace toward Judah is approved."

Then from the rubble-broken walls
Where once Shekinah's Glory dwelt
The angel's voice comes loud and clear
"He has remembered! He is here!"

The awful bondage from the past
Is now fulfilled as Yahweh said
So why is Israel in distress?
While Persia's rule gives nations rest?

The vision Zechariah saw
Outlines the course of Judah's call
To follow closely His command
Until with Christ they take their stand.

So gather round the prophet's stage
And watch this awesome sight unfold
For blessings fall on all who care
And from their hearts this message share.
--B. Pent

THOUGHT QUESTIONS
1. The three names: Zechariah; his father Berekiah; and grandfather Iddo together in Hebrew mean "Jehovah remembers and blesses in His time." What significance might these names have as they relate to the Book of Zechariah?

2. According to verse 4-6, what are some of the contributing factors which led to the Babylonian captivity?

3. Even after Cyrus urged the Jews to return to their homeland, why did so few leave and so many stay? Might it have something to do with
the comforts of Babylon or the broken down walls of Jerusalem? What do you think?

4. Verses 2 and 6b suggest that they were truly repentant of their past. What are some of the indication that they were returning to Yahweh?