In yesterday's commentary I mentioned the importance of perspective in Bible study. In order to correctly understand the strange images found in the New Testament book of Revelation, we need to be able to see things from both God's and the Apostle John's perspective.

You see, God is always concerned about keeping His promises. And for Jesus' disciples -- including John -- this naturally meant God fulfilling all His prophecies concerning Israel and the Messiah found in the Old Testament.

That's why this revival of the old Roman Empire we are witnessing today in Europe is so astounding. You see, unless this revival of the Roman Empire followed the rebirth of Israel, the prophecies in the book of Daniel Jesus referred to about the Antichrist could never be fulfilled (Daniel 9:27, Matthew 24:15).

However, someone is still holding the Antichrist back. This brings us to something I touched on yesterday I felt was being neglected. I pointed out how I believe the book of Revelation reveals to us that the mysterious man who appeared to the prophet Daniel was Jesus Christ before He was revealed in the flesh to Israel (Daniel chapter 10, Revelation 1: 12-18).

Now I want you to take special notice to something this mysterious man -- whom I believe is Jesus -- said to the Jewish prophet Daniel. The man said:

Do you understand why I came? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come. However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince (Daniel 10:20-21 New American Standard Bible).

In order to understand this man's words, we must know what came before. If you recall, from king Nebuchadnezzar's dream we know there will be only four Gentile empires allowed over Israel until the Messiah comes -- Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome. And at the time this man appeared to Daniel, the Medo-Persian empire had already taken the place of the Babylonian empire. So this man was already fighting against the wicked spiritual prince of Persian. And, he would soon be fighting against the next prince coming, the prince of Greece.

But as we know there will be four spiritual princes for this mysterious man to fight. The fourth and last will be the coming Roman prince -- the Antichrist (Daniel 9:27).

However, before the fourth Roman prince comes on the scene, this mysterious man will find some people who will stand firmly with him against these forces. And, ironically, these who will firmly stand with him will be -- of all things -- mostly Gentiles. You see, when the Apostle John sees this man in the book of Revelation, he is walking among seven golden lampstands. And, these lampstands represent seven first century Gentile Christian churches in Asia Minor (Revelation 1: 12-13). 

This brings us to today's news. It appears, due mostly to pressure from the so-called Christian religious right, the Bush administration has decided to stand firmly against the international gang and instead stand with Israel's decision to defend herself by striking a target deep within Syria (Read about it here)  (And here).

Are you seeing what I'm seeing? Are you seeing Jesus among His people standing firmly together against those wicked spiritual  forces attempting to rise over Israel? If you are you may, like me, have a new appreciation for something the Apostle Paul said. Paul said:

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearing of His coming  (2 Thessalonians 2:7-8).

Stay tuned!