Visions Poured Out; Daniel’s Visions; 70 Weeks; Visions in Motion, or Stills

When we talk about partnership with the Holy Spirit, we understand that that includes communication with the Holy Spirit. As we looked at last week, in defense of the Holy Spirit we should be more of a silent partner and allow, like Mary, the Holy Spirit to lead the way. But how does the Holy Spirit communicate with us? Is there only one way, or are there multiple ways? Of course that is a trick question as we know that there are multiple ways for the Holy Spirit to communicate with us. In understanding the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, we have this idea of visions. Receiving visions, seeing visions, and understanding what visions entail is important for us to learn. Many people don’t ever go beyond a knowledge that the Holy Spirit is available because they have never been taught how the Holy Spirit communicates with us. One problem that I still marvel over is the lack of understanding in the Greek text. There are far too many denominations which have been established on nothing more than poor Latin translations. Dreams and visions are given to those that the Holy Spirit is poured out on, not necessarily just Jews or Christians. Our ability to learn this form of communication will allow us to have a greater role in our partnership with the Holy Spirit. Remember that we discussed how humans typically make plans and then invite the Holy Spirit to partake? But our response should be the opposite. The great news for us today is that if we ask, the Holy Spirit will teach us about different types of visions.

The prophet Joel told us that in the last days the Holy Spirit would be poured out on all flesh (bodies), and when that happens people will prophesy, dream dreams, and see visions. Is this something that is taking place in our lives? It should be if we are saved and spirit filled. The pouring out is irrespective of age, gender, race, or religion. The young, the old, the slaves, both male and female, the Holy Spirit is poured out on all flesh. This also notes that it is not by our own will, but by the will of Kurious Theos/Yahweh Elohim.

Joel 2: 28G2532And G1510.8.3it will be G3326after G3778these things, G1632I will pour out G575from G3588 G4151my spirit G1473 G1909upon G3956all G4561flesh; G2532and G4395[⁴shall prophesy G5207¹your sons G1473 G2532²and G3588 G2364³your daughters], G1473 G2532and G3588 G4245your older men G1473 G1798[²dreams G1797¹shall dream], G2532and G3588 G3495your young men G1473 G3706[²visions G3708¹shall see]. 29G2532And G1065even G1909upon G3588the G1401manservants, G2532and G1909upon G3588the G1399maidservants, G1722in G3588 G2250those days G1565 G1632I will pour out G575from G3588 G4151my spirit. G1473

3708 LSJ Gloss: ὁράω To see

Dodson: ὁράω I see, look upon, experience I see, look upon, experience, perceive, discern, beware.

Strong's: ὁράω by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear
Derivation: properly, to stare at (compare G3700), i.e. (by implication) to discern clearly (physically or mentally);KJV Usage: behold, perceive, see, take heed.

Thayer:

1) to see with the eyes
2) to see with the mind, to perceive, know
3) to see, i.e. become acquainted with by experience, to experience
4) to see, to look to
4a) to take heed, beware
4b) to care for, pay heed to
5) I was seen, showed myself, appeared
For Synonyms see entry G5822

ὁράω horaō hor-ah'-o Properly to stare at (compare G3700), that is, (by implication) to discern clearly (physically or mentally); by extension to attend to; by Hebraism to experience; passively to appear KJV Usage: behold, perceive, see, take heed.

To see is to discern or perceive with the eyes or mind or by experience. This is something unique to the individual. A vision is not the same for everyone because not everyone will perceive it the same way, one may “see” the message of the vision, one may “perceive” it in their mind, and another may “experience” or feel the message. A vision is communicated individually, but several people may prophesy the same message. On the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out, Peter explained what was going on.

Acts 2:17G2532And G1510.8.3it will be G1722in G3588the G2078last G2250days, G3004says G3588 G2316God, G1632I will pour out G575from G3588 G4151my spirit G1473 G1909upon G3956all G4561flesh; G2532and G4395[⁴shall prophesy G3588 G5207¹your sons G1473 G2532²and G3588 G2364³your daughters]; G1473 G2532and G3588 G3495your young men G1473 G3706[²visions G3708¹shall see], G2532and G3588 G4245your old men G1473 G1798[²dreams G1797¹shall dream] 18G2532And G1065indeed G1909upon G3588 G1401my manservants G1473 G2532and G1909upon G3588 G1399my maidservants G1473 G1722in G3588 G2250those days G1565 G1632I will pour out G575from G3588 G4151my spirit; G1473 G2532and G4395they shall prophesy.

3706 LSJ Gloss: ὅρασις seeing, the act of sight

Dodson: ὅρασις a sight, vision, appearance.

Strong's: ὅρασις the act of gazing, i.e. (externally) an aspect or (internally) an inspired appearance
Derivation: from G3708; KJV Usage: sight, vision.

Thayer:

1) the act of seeing
1a) the sense of sight, the eyes
2) appearance, visible form
3) a vision
3a) an appearance divinely granted in an ecstasy or dream

ὅρασις horasis hor'-as-is From G3708; the act of gazing, that is, (external) an aspect or (internal) an inspired appearance KJV Usage: sight, vision.

Notice these two words used here, horao and horasis. It can be understood as “one will see a sight”, “perceive a perception”, or “visualize a vision”. It sounds redundant but this type of redundant language helps us understand that there is something that we will experientially know and then we will prophesy. It is discerning an inspired appearance. We all should have visions, this is not for certain people over others, it is for everyone; young, old, boy, girl, slave, or free. Visions for prophetic understanding are for everyone.

Daniel is a great example of someone who receives visions and prophetic messages. We may not always understand visions, but Hebraic prophecies are like that. One usually cannot discern prophecy until certain events have passed. It is not something we understand when looking too far ahead. We can speculate, but usually prophecies are very literal. Hebraic prophecy is usually understood when most or all events have taken place. Jesus for example told people that when they saw Jerusalem surrounded to get out and head for the hills. He said this thirty-four years before it took place. The city was surrounded in 66 CE by the Idumeans when the fascist Zealots tried to gain support from the people. The Romans already occupied the city and simply waited for the civil war to wind down before they seized the city and drove out the Jews. Jesus’ words were literal. Jesus’ words were a warning. The people who survived either left before the surrounding of the city or escaped the city when it was surrounded.  

Elohim/Theos gave the four youths understanding, intelligence, academics, wisdom, and perception in visions and dreams.

Daniel 1:17G2532And G1325[²gave G1473³to them G3588 G2316¹God] G4907understanding G2532and G5428intelligence G1722in G3956all G1122.2academics, G2532and G4678wisdom. G2532And G*Daniel G4920perceived G1722in G3956every G3706vision G2532and G1798in dreams

4907σύνεσις sunesis soon'-es-is From G4920; a mental putting together, that is, intelligence or (concretely) the intellect KJV Usage: knowledge, understanding.

5428φρόνησις phronēsis fron'-ay-sis From G5426; mental action or activity, that is, intellectual or moral insight KJV Usage: prudence, wisdom.

1122 γραμματεύς grammateus gram-mat-yooce' From G1121; a writer, that is, (professionally) scribe or secretary KJV Usage: scribe, town-clerk.

4678σοφία sophia sof-ee'-ah From G4680; wisdom (higher or lower, worldly or spiritual) KJV Usage: wisdom.

4920 συνίημι suniēmi soon-ee'-ay-mee From G4862 and ἵημι hiēmi (to send); to put together, that is, (mentally) to comprehend; by implication to act piously KJV Usage: consider, understand, be wise.

1798 ἐνύπνιον enupnion en-oop'-nee-on From G1722 and G5258; something seen in sleep, that is, a dream (vision in a dream) KJV Usage: dream.

They were so smart in fact that the King found them ten times smarter than the magicians and astrologers in his realm. Isn’t that how each and every one of us should be, ten times smarter than the non-spirit filled people around us? We can and should expect, like Daniel, that the Holy Spirit will enlighten us in all areas of life.

Dan 2:27-30 Daniel answered the king, The [mysterious] secret which the king has demanded neither the wise men, enchanters, magicians, nor astrologers can show the king, 28 But there is a God in heaven Who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what it is that shall be in the latter days (at the end of days). Your dream and the visions in your head upon your bed are these: 29 As for you, O king, as you were lying upon your bed thoughts came into your mind about what should come to pass hereafter, and He Who reveals secrets was making known to you what shall come to pass. 30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than anyone else living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king and that you may know the thoughts of your heart and mind. …… Dan 2:45 Just as you saw that the Stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter. The dream is certain and the interpretation of it is sure. AMP

Daniel 2:28G235But G1510.2.3there is G2316a God G1722in G3772heaven G601uncovering G3466mysteries, G2532and G1107he made known G3588 G935to king G*Nebuchadnezzar G3739what G1163must G1096take place G1909at G2078the last G3588of the G2250days. G3588The G1798dream G1473of yours, G2532and G3588the G3706visions G3588 G2776of your head G1473 G1909upon G3588 G2845your bed, G1473 G3778is this, G1510.2.3

Who reveals the secrets? Yahweh Elohim made known to Nebuchadnezzar something that was to occur in the later days. This is the statue of the man made with various materials. This is a vision for the latter times. We understand it now, but as Daniel states this dream and vision was not made known to him for his benefit but for latter times. The dream is certain and the interpretation is sure. Why was this vision given to the king of Babylon? Why was this king so important that he received this vision that explains future kingdoms and empires? One would think that someone who was a holy devout Jew would have a dream and vision that explains future kingdoms concerning Israel, but instead this very important revelation was given to a non-Jew and interpreted by a Jew. By Nebuchadnezzar receiving the vision and asking people for understanding, he made known the vision to many people. All the people who heard about this vision then heard about the interpretation. If someone less important received this vision it may never have been recorded for us to learn from.

Now if it wasn’t already amazing that a non-Jew had a dream and vision that we still discuss today, the entire court of Babylon saw a vision of the son of Elohim/Theos.

Daniel 3: 25G2532And G2036[²said G3588 G935¹ the king], G5602Here, G1473IG3708see G435[²men G5064¹four] G3089being loose G2532and G4043walking G1722in G3319the midst G3588of the G4442fire, G2532and G1312[²no corruption G3756 G1510.2.3¹there is] G1722to G1473them, G2532and G3588the G3706vision G3588of the G5067fourth G3664is likened G5207to son G2316of God.

Once again, this vision was not given to the Jews. The three friends of Daniel were thrown in the fire with the intent to murder them. But instead the entire court saw the son of God in the fire. This vision was not a witness to any Israelites, it was a witness to the non-Jews and it attested to the power of Elohim/Theos. This vision needed no interpretation as they all knew throwing three into the fire, yet seeing four walking around the fire was a miracle. If we read the prayers of the three that were thrown into the fire which the Masorete’s took out, we will see some amazing testimony. We can read the rest of this story in the Septuagint in chapter three. http://ecmarsh.com/lxx/Daniel/index.htm

Daniel has a vision of the future Persian king, Cyrus, and of the future Grecian king, Alexander the Great. There used to be an old expression that after Malachi and before Matthew there were 400 silent years. That is not true in the least. Daniel has very detailed prophecies of those years. There were never any silent years, they were foretold by Daniel and came to pass.

Dan 8:1-2 IN THE third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after the one that appeared to me at the first. 2 And I saw in the vision and it seemed that I was at Shushan the palace or fortress [in Susa, the capital of Persia], which is in the province of Elam, and I saw in the vision and I was by the river of Ulai. AMP

Here again is a vision that at the time seemed confusing to understand, but once Cyrus and then Alexander the Great conquered the region, the vision becomes understandable. Gabriel gives Daniel the understanding. But let’s keep in mind that it was very very needful for these things to come to pass. Let’s read.

Dan 8:13-19 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one that spoke, For how long is the vision concerning the continual offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of both the sanctuary and the host [of the people] to be trampled underfoot? [Luke 21:24.] 14 And he said to him and to me, For 2,300 evenings and mornings; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed and restored. 15 When I, even I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I sought to understand it; then behold, there stood before me one [Gabriel] with the appearance of a man. 16 And I heard a man's voice between the banks of the [river] Ulai which called and said, Gabriel, make this man [Daniel] understand the vision. [Dan 9:21; Luke 1:19,26.] 17 So he came near where I stood, and when he came, I was frightened and fell on my face. But he said to me, Understand, O son of man, for the [fulfillment of the] vision belongs to [events that shall occur in] the time of the end. 18 Now as he [Gabriel] was speaking with me, I fell stunned and in deep unconsciousness with my face to the ground; but he touched me and set me upright [where I had stood]. 19 And he said, Behold, I will make you know what will be in the latter time of the indignation [of God upon the ungodly], for it has to do with the time of the end. AMP

At first it seems such a terrible thing that the Jews are in captivity. Then another king will conquer the kingdom and another greater king will conquer them again. If we had been privy to this vision as a Jew in captivity we would mourn and weep, because at this point all the Jews wanted was to go back to their own land. But there is a bigger plan unfolding here that is only understood in hindsight. As Jeremiah correctly prophesied, after the seventy years of captivity the Jews are freed but under Assyrian rule. Cyrus conquers Babylon and lets the Jews go back to Jerusalem and re-build the city wall and then the temple. Out of 600,000 in captivity only 150,000 Jews go back. The rest stay either in Assyria, Babylon, or move to other places around the globe. The Greeks take over the region but that wasn’t all bad either. Instead of wiping out the Jews and their sacred temple and scriptures, the Greeks preserved them. The Greeks established the Library at Alexandria, hired seventy temple scribes to preserve the Torah, the prophets, and the historical records, most of which was written in hieroglyphs, paleo Hebrew. The scribes made seventy copies of each book which was then distributed all over the region in synagogues. This was great improvement for educating the Jews as compared to what the northern and southern kingdoms had before both kingdoms went into captivity. This was needful for the coming Messiah. The entire region was already speaking Aramaic as that was the language of the Assyrians, but now the entire region had one common written language, Greek. The Greeks preserved the writings of the Jews so well in or around 300 BCE, we still have the Septuagint today. We can now see the later alterations that the Masorete’s made to the text and we have a far better ancient text in the Septuagint. Today, as we read the prophecies of the Messiah we can understand the need for the dominance and conquering of the Jews, as it centralized their country, language, and writing.

While we all might have been upset by this vision at the time it was given, and while we might have felt ultimately hopeless during this 400 year period, the vision was right and true and the events were beneficial to the generations in the latter days. The Jews had to know that they would never be sovereign over their own nation in the near future. This in and of itself was upsetting, but needful for the coming Messiah. The Jews would be under the authority of other kings, but they would have their city and sanctuary.  

This vision was overwhelming for Daniel. Daniel has more visions. He mentions that he recognized that the seventy years of captivity that Jeremiah prophesied were almost over, so he was praying, fasting, and interceding for the people. Gabriel comes back again to inform Daniel of a very important vision regarding Jesus. He is going to give Daniel skill, wisdom, and understanding.  

   

Dan 9:21-23 Yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the former vision, being caused to fly swiftly, came near to me and touched me about the time of the evening sacrifice. [Dan 8:16.] 22 He instructed me and made me understand; he talked with me and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give you skill and wisdom and understanding. 23 At the beginning of your prayers, the word [giving an answer] went forth, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved. Therefore consider the matter and understand the vision. AMP

The word for vision here in verse 23 is a bit different from G3706.

Daniel 9:23G1722In G746the beginning G3588 G1162of your supplication G1473 G1831[³went forth G3588¹the G3056²word], G2532and G1473I G2064came G3588 G312to announce G1473to you; G3754for G435[²a man G1939³desired G1510.2.2¹you are]. G1473 G2532And now G1770.1reflect G1722in G3588the G4487matter, G2532and G4920perceive G1722in G3588the G3701apparition!

3701 LSJ Gloss: ὀπτασία a vision

Dodson: ὀπτασίαa vision, supernatural appearance.

Strong's: ὀπτασία visuality, i.e. (concretely) an apparition
Derivation: from a presumed derivative of G3700; KJV Usage: vision.

Thayer:

1) the act of exhibiting one's self to view
2) a sight, a vision, an appearance presented to one whether asleep or awake

ὀπτασία optasia op-tas-ee'-ah From a presumed derivative of G3700; visuality, that is, (concretely) an apparition KJV Usage: vision.

This type of vision is more like a motion picture vision, it is seen like a ghost, but not necessarily like a being. Considering that there were no motion pictures or videos in those days, this was a good way of explaining more than a single image. Instead of a picture or a slide, this is a movie. It has motion like a ghost, it has several moving parts. This is what he sees, verse 24 is the scope of the vision.

Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks [of years, or 490 years] are decreed upon your people and upon your holy city [Jerusalem], to finish and put an end to transgression, to seal up and make full the measure of sin, to purge away and make expiation and reconciliation for sin, to bring in everlasting righteousness (permanent moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) to seal up vision (G3706) and prophecy and prophet, and to anoint a Holy of Holies.

Here is the list 1) end transgressions; 2) end sins; 3) reconciliation for iniquity; 4) everlasting righteousness; 5) seal up vision and prophecy; 6) anoint the Most Holy. The people will have to go through 70 weeks of years in total 490 years. Verse 25 gives us the 69 weeks of years, on a 360 day calendar year which was what the Jews were instructed by God to use, they had the exact days mapped out to the time the Messiah. 483 years.

Dan 9:25 Know therefore and understand that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem until [the coming of] the Anointed One, a Prince, shall be seven weeks [of years] and sixty-two weeks [of years]; it shall be built again with [city] square and moat, but in troublous times.

Cyrus allowed the Jews to go back to Jerusalem, but they could not build the temple at first because of the contentious people who had been resettled and living in the region. In order to build the temple, they first had to build the city walls. That was done 3/15/445 BCE. From 445 BCE to the time of the crucifixion in 32 CE, seven weeks of years to build from the time of the commandment and 62 weeks of years until the Messiah is 69 weeks.

I do want to point out the need for water here in the rebuilding of the temple. This is another attestation as to why the temple was not built where people claim on the temple mount. There is no water on the temple mount, the temple mount was the Roman fortress that housed the garrison of the Roman army.  The temple had to have water as part of the daily sacrifices.

Dan 9:26 And after the sixty-two weeks [of years] shall the Anointed One be cut off or killed and shall have nothing [and no one] belonging to [and defending] Him…..

Seven weeks of years to rebuild, the 62 weeks of years to the Messiah. The Messiah rode into Jerusalem on a donkey on April 6, 32 CE. Gabriel is phenomenally accurate, in fact he really does pinpoint the day as we can see from Sir Robert Anderson’s work http://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Text.Only/pdfs/The_Coming_Prince_Text.pdf

http://philologos.org/__eb-tcp/

In 70 CE the city and sanctuary were destroyed. This is the end of daily sacrifices. They will be cut off as a flood. War and desolations were a part of Jerusalem’s history for many years. Jerusalem was abominated five times and destroyed twice. But there is a mystery that was revealed to Paul which Jesus alluded to but Paul revealed.  

And the people of the [other] prince who will come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come as a flood; and even to the end there shall be war, and desolations are decreed. [Isa 53:7-9; Nah 1:8; Matt 24:6-14.]

Remember that Jesus himself said that not one stone would be left upon another. The Romans, after the civil war of the fascist Zealots against the people, leveled the city, the hill below the fortress Antonia, and the temple. This time that we live in is the interval, the time of the Goyim, nations, to come into the Body of Christ. It is listed 24 times in the Bible and can be understood as the mystery. Romans 11:25 tells us that we are waiting for the number of nations, Goyim, to be fulfilled.

Dan 8:13 Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to the one that spoke, For how long is the vision concerning the continual offering, the transgression that makes desolate, and the giving over of both the sanctuary and the host [of the people] to be trampled underfoot? [Luke 21:24.] AMP

Luke 21:24 They will fall by the mouth and the edge of the sword and will be led away as captives to and among all nations; and Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (completed). [Isa 63:18; Dan 8:13.] AMP

Luke 19:43 For a time is coming upon you when your enemies will throw up a bank [with pointed stakes] about you and surround you and shut you in on every side. [Isa 29:3; Jer 6:6; Ezek 4:2.] 44 And they will dash you down to the ground, you [Jerusalem] and your children within you; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, [all] because you did not come progressively to recognize and know and understand [from observation and experience] the time of your visitation [that is, when God was visiting you, the time in which God showed Himself gracious toward you and offered you salvation through Christ]. AMP

Because they did not recognize the time of the Messiah, the time of Jesus’ visitation, not one stone was left upon another, and this gap or interval is the time of the Goyim, nations. Then after the harpazo, the covenant will be enforced, then broken. This implies that the temple has to be built again. Today it is not built. Today people are fighting over the fortress Antonia instead of the site where the real temple stood, over the Gihon Springs. Today, there is no temple to start the sacrifices in.

Dan 9:27 And he shall enter into a strong and firm covenant with the many for one week [seven years]. And in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and offering to cease [for the remaining three and one-half years]; and upon the wing or pinnacle of abominations [shall come] one who makes desolate, until the full determined end is poured out on the desolator. AMP

So somewhere in the middle of the seven year time frame, during the 70^th week, the sacrifices will stop and desolation will come again. What a vision/apparition that is. We can track this vision up to the time of Jesus’ riding into Jerusalem and then being cut off, to the destruction of the city and the temple in 70 CE. That part of the vision is understandable because we have lived past that time. We are in the midst of the gap years, of the mystery, the time that the angels wished to look into but were not allowed. The time, that if the devil had known, he would not have killed Jesus the Lord of Glory. This is the time period of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. This is the time that the young, old, boys, girls, slaves, and free, from every nation, can have visions and dreams and prophesy.

Daniel saw this last vision in movement. He saw all of these things happening; the rebuilding of the city, then the temple, the Messiah coming to make an end of sins, being executed, then the temple being destroyed. He then saw in motion the covenant in the last seven years and the desolation that will take place. The part that Daniel did not see, which was the mystery, was not revealed until after Jesus was crucified; this was the time of the gentiles, the Goyim. This is a vision that baffled many Jews for 483 years, but once the day of Pentecost arrived and the destruction of the temple occurred, then the words of Daniel made sense. It is interesting to note, that Daniel never went back to Jerusalem, he stayed in Babylon. He was probably around 90 years old at the end of the captivity.

Some visions are in still pictures, some visions are moving pictures. If we think back to the great prophecies that were shared and recorded we can see the difference. The reason for visions is as a testament to Yahweh Elohim. And one does not have to be a holy devout religious person, Jew or non-Jew, to receive visions. Whoever the Holy Spirit wants to reveal information to is the Holy Spirit’s choice. Most days our visions from the Holy Spirit are not grand. Most visions we receive are in regards to our lives and the lives of those around us and are on a much smaller scale. Next week we will explore a bit more on this subject of visions.