Insight without understanding is dangerous. As believers in Jesus, we all have a new spiritual insight into things. But, the question is, do we correctly understand what we see?

The prophet Daniel was an eminent scholar of his day. The Bible tells us, he was not only educated in Jewish customs and traditions, he was also educated in all the literature and language of his captors -- the Chaldeans. Nevertheless, when it came to understanding the prophecies of his own Jewish Scripture, he still needed more. The prophet Daniel says:

Now while I was speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God, while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering. He gave me instruction and talked with me and said, "O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you insight with understanding (Daniel 9: 20-22 New American Standard Bible).

Gabriel didn't come to only bring Daniel insight. He came to bring Daniel insight with understanding. Friends, that's what we need. Insight is all around us. What we need is insight with understanding. And, that's what I believe the book of Daniel is for. It's to give us believers in Jesus and Bible prophecy insight with understanding.

Many times, in our study of the books of the Bible, we are asked to find a "key verse." I believe, when it comes to the prophecies of the book of Daniel, Jesus gives us the key verse. It's Daniel 9:27. Jesus said:

 Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand) (Matthew 24: 15).

Jesus was referring to Daniel 9:27. Notice the part that says, "let the reader understand." Why was that added? What's so important about understanding Daniel 9: 27? We already have insight into the verse. Daniel 9 :27 is about the coming Anti-christ and his betrayal of Israel. But, the question is, do we have the understanding that Jesus intended? I don't believe many of us do.

For example, I'm reminded of another passage of Scripture where insight isn't enough to interpret -- where understanding is necessary. And, interestedly, it's about the very same subject matter. At the end of chapter 13 in the book of Revelation, the chapter where the Anti-christ is revealed, we read:

Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six (Daniel 13:18). 

Where do we get this understanding? I believe from the book of Daniel. To properly interpret the book of Revelation, we must first have a firm grasp of what has come before in the book of Daniel. In fact, I believe we must be able to see the entire book of Daniel at the same time, as one who observes from above. Once we can do this, then we can go on to a proper understanding of the book of Revelation.

You see, in Jesus, insight is immediate and free. On the other hand, insight with understanding takes time and has cost. It's not something we can snap our fingers and have. Even the great prophet Daniel had to begin his inquiry into prophecy by studying what came before -- the writings of the prophet Jeremiah (Daniel 9: 2).

So, how many times have we read the book of Daniel? Have we read it enough to notice all the things that it has in common with the book of Revelation? In fact, when we read the book of Revelation, do we see the book of Daniel expanded?

Friends, insight in Christian circles today is common.

What we need is understanding.