The Great Puzzle: Part One: A Look at Daniel

By Alisa Weir

Long ago, God spoke to the prophets about the events to come. The Bible foretold the rise and fall of kings and kingdoms. The Scriptures foretold the coming of the Messiah.

Since Jesus came, many have believed in him. Now he is going to return. Jesus told his disciples the signs of his coming and what events would come to pass. These and other events are written in several books of the Bible.

Are we living in the end times? Many people have looked at the Scriptures. Scholars have pondered the writings. Sorting it all out can be a challenge. It's like putting a puzzle together.

Fortunately, there is a key that unlocks the mystery. Once a prophecy is fulfilled, it becomes history. Now the picture becomes easier to see when we look at the events in his story.

The great puzzle is about the prophecies and the events, winding up to the end of times and the return of Jesus Christ.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 15, 2024
• ISBN: 9798891307131

Book preview

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The Great Puzzle

Part One: A Look at Daniel

Alisa Weir

ISBN 979-8-89130-712-4 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-89130-713-1 (digital)

Copyright © 2024 by Alisa Weir

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

I would like to acknowledge my husband, my sister Vicky, my mother, and father and those who are dear to me. Without them this book would not have been possible. And of course, I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because if it weren't for God's grace, I wouldn't be here.

Introduction

The Journey Begins

Prophecy

Why Study Time?

The Great Puzzle

The Roman Empire

Emperor Constantine

Putting Pieces Together

The Fourth Beast

The Boastful Horn

What Is a Time?

Why Use a Scale?

The Writing on the Wall

Clues to a Great Mystery

Table of Dreams

Time Prophecies and Israel

More Time Prophecies

2,300 Days

Conclusion

I would like to acknowledge my husband, my sister Vicky, my mother, and father and those who are dear to me. Without them this book would not have been possible. And of course, I thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because if it weren't for God's grace, I wouldn't be here.

Introduction

The Bible is a book of mysteries. Long ago, God spoke to the prophets and showed them events to come. Scholars and theologians have tried to figure out the meaning of some of these prophecies. For example, starting in the book of Genesis, there are prophecies about a coming Messiah. Prophets, such as Moses, David, Isaiah, and Daniel, said that Messiah would come. The Jews were trying to figure out when the Messiah would arrive. Since Jesus (Yeshua) came into this world, many have believed that his life, death and resurrection fulfilled the prophesies about the Messiah.

While Jesus was walking on this earth, his disciple asked him to tell them the signs of his coming (return) and of the end of the age. Jesus told them about the events that would happen. Since that time, many theologians have tried to find out the time of the end and of Christ's return. We can find clues in some of the books of the Bible, such as Daniel, Matthew, and Revelation.

Sometimes God spoke through a dream or a vision. The meaning was not always clear. There are symbolic dreams and visions about beasts and kingdoms, a dragon, and a great whore. There are other mysteries about such things as the abomination of desolation, the mark of the beast, and great tribulation. However, there are so many things to consider; scholars and theologians have puzzled over these things for centuries. Sorting it all out can be like putting a great puzzle together.

This great puzzle is about Bible prophecies that talk about world events leading up to the end of times and the return of Jesus Christ. This puzzle is too big for any one person or one group of people to put together. In fact, many scholars and theologians have been working on this puzzle. While puzzles are always hardest to do in the beginning, once some of the pieces are in place, it becomes easier, and sometimes even a child can come along and put in some of the pieces. I am not a scholar or a theologian, although I have read the Bible. I have simply been looking at this great puzzle and trying to see where others have already placed some of the pieces. A picture is beginning to form, and I have become fascinated by what I see.

In recent years, great strides have been made in completing this great puzzle. In the book of Daniel, the angel said the book would be sealed until the time of the end.

But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words, and seal up the book until the time of the end; many will go back and forth and knowledge will increase. (Daniel 12:4)

Are we at the time of the end? We know that, for centuries, people lived in the horse and buggy age. However, since the invention of planes, trains, and automobiles, people travel here and there, frequently and with ease, especially in comparison to what travel was like for thousands of years. All this travel means that people can go here and there, meet other people, and share ideas or knowledge. Travel and the sharing of knowledge have led to more modern inventions.

Consequently, modern inventions have propelled us into the information age. Radio, television, and phones have increased communications. Increased communications have led to advancements in technology. Computers have had a huge effect on the gathering and usage of data. Satellites and invention of the Internet and the World Wide Web mean that knowledge can be gathered and shared more easily. Now people can get on the Internet and go here and there, surfing the World Wide Web. Since we can see that people do run here and there, and knowledge has increased, it seems we are living at the time of the end.

Since we are now living in what is called the last days, maybe we should consider some of the prophecies in the Bible and see if we can put this great puzzle together. Sometimes putting a big puzzle together can be a challenge. While it may seem boring to some, there are a few people who enjoy working on puzzles. Furthermore, puzzles take up time and space. One must lay out the puzzle pieces and take time to stare and study the pieces. Eventually, as pieces are put into place, a picture will begin to form, and the puzzle will get easier. Others may get involved and may even find a piece or two as well.

However, sometimes people may try to force a puzzle piece where it does not belong. While someone may have correctly placed some of the pieces, other times they might try to force pieces to make things fit into their own preconceived ideas or theories. Some people may have tried to force a puzzle piece just because it seemed to fit with the knowledge that they had at the time. Time and events have often clarified what the Bible meant by certain prophecies. All in all, we must be careful, and we should not try to force pieces where they do not go. This means we must be diligent and check all the facts, and sometimes it means we must be patient.

Finally, we should try to be more like the Bereans. The Bereans were people of the town of Berea. (See Acts 17.) When the apostle Paul preached in the town of Thessalonica, the townsfolk went into an uproar, and Paul was forced to flee. Then Paul went and preached in the town of Berea. The Bible says that the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians. The Bereans received the good news with an open mind and diligently searched the Scriptures to see if what Paul said was true (Acts 17:11).

The Journey Begins

The first time I heard someone teaching about history and Bible prophecy was when a rabbi was the special speaker in church one Sunday. He was talking about a statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel, chapter 2. The rabbi was saying that Babylon was the head of gold in the statue and that the Medes and Persians were the chest of silver. The belly of bronze was Alexander the Great, and the legs of iron represented the Roman Empire. When I realized what the rabbi was saying, that the Bible tells about these kingdoms before they even existed, I became fascinated. I wanted to learn more, but I had no idea where to start.

Years have passed since then, and I began to get on the Internet. I was a bit hesitant at first and a little afraid of what I would find. I began my