Showing posts with label Tigris. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tigris. Show all posts

Friday, October 19, 2012

Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me


This vision occurred in the time of Cyrus, king of Persia. Daniel was mourning and fasting for three weeks and at the end of this, he had a vision of a man. It appeared that the man Daniel saw and then spoke to him, could be an angel. The angel was prevented from speaking to Daniel until Michael came to save him. Michael is referred to as a chief prince, and might be the archangel Michael.So this chapter gives us an impression of the supernatural world beyond our physical world, a world with good and evil angelic beings fighting to carry out and oppose the work of God.



Daniel 10
Vision of the Glorious Man

1 In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long;[a] and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision. 2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

4 Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris,[b] 5 I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! 6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude.

7 And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. 8 Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. 9 Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground.

Prophecies Concerning Persia and Greece

10 Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.

12 Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”

15 When he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. 16 And suddenly, one having the likeness of the sons[c] of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, “My lord, because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength. 17 For how can this servant of my lord talk with you, my lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left in me.”

18 Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. 19 And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!”

So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

20 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come. 21 But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Garden of Eden

After God created man and woman, he also had a very special place prepared for them. We all know this as the Garden of Eden and we envisage this as a paradise. In the Garden, God also placed many trees that man can eat from. Recently, I have realised that different versions of the Bible may describe the two trees, Tree of Life and Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in different ways.

In the NIV, it seems to suggest that there many trees which are good for food and the two trees are included in them. In the King James it appears that the two separate Trees are singled out - this means that the two special trees were not intended for food, at least not yet. This is no surprise for the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, because God specifically said we can eat from it. However, considering the Tree of Life, this may lead to profound revelations about doctrine. The main uncertainty I found is that has Adam and Eve been regularly eating from the Tree of Life.Alternatively, even if the fruit of the Tree of Life is allowed to be eaten, was it being saved for a later time.

The scripture verses also tell us exactly where the Garden of Eden is, thus establishing the historical accuracy of the Bible. The only difficulty is that two of the four rivers mentioned (Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, Euphrates), has been lost through time. Knowing these four rivers would allow us to pinpoint he location of the Garden of Eden.

The article here mentions the possible location of the Garden of Eden being the location where Kuwait, Iran and Iraq meets.
http://www.focusmagazine.org/Articles/pishonriver.htm


Genesis 2:
8 The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 
10 Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. 11 The name of the first is Pishon; it isthe one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there. 13 The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is Hiddekel;[b] it is the one which goes toward the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. 
15 Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” 

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