Stendal - The Book of Daniel

The Book of Daniel

Prophecy for Today From Daniel, David, and Haggai

Russell Stendal

Click to watch the La Montana Trailer. A movie based on Russells adventures.

Preface

A s I was working on the last corrections of this book, a good friend said to me, Ive been thinking a lot about you because you are beginning your productive years. Its time to work and support your family according to what is established in the system. What do you think about what is happening around us? What do you think we are doing?

I do not doubt that he had good intentions in our chat. I tried justifying my situation in the same way he did when he spoke of his life. One thing was clear to both of us, even though neither of us knew how to express it at that moment.

In summary: so much effort and dedication to a job that began as an impulse placed by the LORD, in a time when the purity and simplicity of the Word have become a great feast or great slavery, can only be explained with the reaction that our Lord Jesus had when He saw the state of the temple: The zeal of thy house has consumed me. (Psalm 69:9; John 2:17) Several weeks passed after our encounter, but to my surprise, the answers to his questions kept coming little by little.

The One who motivated me to begin this project is the same One who has been answering my questions. I found the summary of His responses in the last chapter of this book:

Thus speaketh the LORD of the hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not yet come, the time to build the house of the LORD. Then came the word of the LORD by the hand of Haggai the prophet, saying, Do you have time, all of you, to dwell in your panelled houses, and this house is deserted? Now therefore thus hath the LORD of the hosts said; Consider your ways. (Haggai 1:2-5)

It is foolishness in the eyes of the world to spend so much time in this work; they consider a person who is walking against this system as unemployed.

However, when I read these verses, I ask myself, If we truly DO NOT HAVE THE TIME we think we have, and this is evident in my life, what is more foolish? Is it more foolish to go against the system or to go against the zeal that has been placed in my heart by the LORD, the zeal of the Truth?

Remaining faithful to a calling (if this is the right word) is not easy; recognizing work produced by the zeal of the LORD as a real job is not easy. Only the LORD can work beforehand so we do not deviate from His path that has been laid out, so in the end we can say, like David, that if this is foolishness to the world, then We will yet be more vile (See 2 Samuel 6:14-22)

Many, consciously or unconsciously, will speak of the woman who out of her own free-will (just like the true sacrifices for the LORD were done) broke and then poured the alabaster box of ointment of great price upon the Lords head. They will say, What foolishness, what waste; that perfume could have been sold at a great price and given to the poor. In the same manner the Lord will tell them:

But Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? She has wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whenever ye will, ye may do them good; but me ye have not always. She has done what she could, for she has anticipated anointing my body for the burial. Verily I say unto you, Wherever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she has done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. (Mark 14:6-9)

All those who out of their own free will have decided to pour out their lives before the Lord, with sincerity and honesty of heart, and against what is common in the eyes of men, comprise this woman.

This Book of Daniel came about as I had described: against the current. It was produced as part of a series of unpremeditated, spontaneous messages in an auditorium, recorded and destined for some radio stations situated in high-risk zones in Colombia with the purpose of spreading this Gospel to the entire world through radio waves.

This book contains part of a Series of 100 messages called A Different Kingdom and is completed with three more messages: The Prophecy of David in Psalm 22 and The Prophecy of Haggai that are part of another series of 100 messages called Peace be with you .

The messages in both audio and written format fulfill the same purpose. Before they went to the public, they were written in the tablets of the hearts of the people who feel a fervent zeal for the house of the LORD, just like their Master. The circumstances in which each one of these people have found themselves is as indescribable as knowing that the LORD has a plan with this country.

People like Russell Stendal and his family have been the voices, the ambassadors of the LORD from the embassy of the LORD to Colombia a country whose best personification could be the demon possessed Gergesenes that Scripture describes. (Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39)

The message these faithful people have been preaching is linked to the beginning of the book of Daniel and the end of the book of Haggai: purity of heart that is united with holiness. Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the kings food or wine. The end of the book of Haggai says, Consider now in your heart from this day forthfrom the day that the foundation of the LORDS temple was laid, put your heart into it. (Haggai 2:18)

If this book, as well as the trials each of us have experienced in a unique and individual manner, serve as a guide to lead us to a personal and direct encounter with the LORD without intermediaries, following our Master and older Brother, the Lord Jesus, it will be gratifying. Even more than that, it will be indescribable if what the apostle described in Galatians 2:20 is fulfilled in us.

I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me . (Galatians 2:20)

All things considered: What a privilege it is to dedicate my productive years to the service of the LORD! The latter years will definitely be better than the former!

Samuel David Hernndez G.

EDITOR

Chapter One

God is the Judge

Daniel Chapter 1

F ull of supernatural wonders, this book is a record of the life and revelations given to Daniel as a captive Jew in Babylon, and to David, Haggai and Zechariah. It is a course in history and Israels relationship to it. Jerusalem was in ruins, and many Israelites were captive in Babylon.

Beginning with four boys in a pagan land ruled by a prideful king and ending with the kings recognition of the presence of God in these four, the LORD used this king to reveal an outline of His plan. He revealed the human empires, where they are going to end and how the true kingdom of God will come forth. We find all this in twelve brief chapters.

Later in the Gospels, the Lord Jesus said He did not come to judge us, but if he did judge us, his judgment would be true.

John 8:15-16 Ye judge after the flesh, but I judge no one. And yet if I judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

God is the Judge

The Lord Jesus did not come to do His own will or to say His own words. He came to do the will of His Father and speak His Fathers words. The foundation is in the Gospels: Jesus is the fulfillment of the word Daniel. Jesus has always allowed His Father to be the Judge. He came with His Fathers life and presence in Him.