Angels From the Captivity to John the Baptist
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angel to close the mouths of those hungry lions that they should not
hurt the praying man of God, and all was peace in that terrible den.
The king witnessed his preservation, and brought him out with honors.
Satan and his angels were defeated and enraged. The agents Satan
had employed were doomed to perish in the terrible manner they had
plotted to destroy Daniel.—
Spiritual Gifts 4b:85, 86
.
Gabriel Sent to Explain the Vision of Daniel 8
Shortly before the fall of Babylon, when Daniel was meditating
on these prophecies [of Isaiah and Jeremiah] and seeking God for
an understanding of the times, a series of visions was given him
concerning the rise and fall of kingdoms. With the first vision, as
recorded in the seventh chapter of the book of Daniel, an interpretation
was given; yet not all was made clear to the prophet. “My cogitations
much troubled me,” he wrote of his experience at the time, “and my
countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.”
Daniel
7:28
.
Through another vision further light was thrown upon the events of
the future; and it was at the close of this vision that Daniel heard “one
saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which
spake, How long shall be the vision?” The answer that was given,
“Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary
be cleansed,” filled him with perplexity. Earnestly he sought for the
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meaning of the vision. He could not understand the relation sustained
by the seventy years’ captivity, as foretold through Jeremiah, to the
twenty-three hundred years that in vision he heard the heavenly visitant
declare should elapse before the cleansing of God’s sanctuary. The
angel Gabriel gave him a partial interpretation; yet when the prophet
heard the words, “The vision ... shall be for many days,” he fainted
away....
Still burdened in behalf of Israel, Daniel studied anew the prophe-
cies of Jeremiah. They were very plain....
With faith founded on the sure word of prophecy, Daniel pleaded
with the Lord for the speedy fulfillment of these promises.—
Prophets
and Kings, 553, 554
.
As Daniel’s prayer is going forth, the angel Gabriel comes sweep-
ing down from the heavenly courts, to tell him that his petitions are