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and there shall be famines； and pestilences； and earthquakes； in divers places。〃 Matthew 24：6； 7。
The present is a time of overwhelming interest to all living。 Rulers and statesmen； men who occupy positions of trust and authority； thinking men and women of all classes； have their attention fixed upon the events taking place about us。 They are watching the relations that exist among the nations。 They observe the intensity that is taking possession of every earthly element； and they recognize that something great and decisive is about to take placethat the world is on the verge of a stupendous crisis。
The Bible； and the Bible only； gives a correct view of these things。 Here are revealed the great final scenes in the history of our world； events that already are casting their shadows before； the sound of their approach causing the earth to tremble and men's hearts to fail them for fear。
〃Behold； the Lord maketh the earth empty； and maketh it waste； and turneth it upside down； and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof； 。 。 。 because they have transgressed the laws； changed the ordinance； broken the everlasting covenant。 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth； and they that dwell therein are desolate。〃 Isaiah 24：1…6。
〃Alas for the day！ for the day of the Lord is at hand； and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come。 。 。 。 The seed is rotten under their clods； the garners are laid desolate； the barns are broken down； for the corn is withered。 How do the beasts groan！ the herds of cattle are perplexed； because they have no pasture； yea； the flocks of sheep are made desolate。〃 The vine is dried up； and the fig tree languisheth；
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the pomegranate tree； the palm tree also； and the apple tree； even all the trees of the field； are withered： because joy is withered away from the sons of men。〃 Joel 1：15…18； 12。
〃I am pained at my very heart； 。 。 。 I cannot hold my peace； because thou hast heard； O my soul； the sound of the trumpet； the alarm of war。 Destruction upon destruction is cried； for the whole land is spoiled。〃 Jeremiah 4：19； 20。
〃Alas！ for that day is great； so that none is like it： it is even the time of Jacob's trouble； but he shall be saved out of it。〃 Jeremiah 30：7。 〃Because thou hast made the Lord； which is my refuge； Even the Most High； thy habitation； There shall no evil befall thee； Neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling。〃 Psalm 91：9； 10。
〃O daughter of Zion； 。 。 。 the Lord shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies。 Now also many nations are gathered against thee； that say； Let her be defiled； and let our eye look upon Zion。 But they know not the thoughts of the Lord； neither understand they His counsel。〃 Micah 4：10…12。 God will not fail His church in the hour of her greatest peril。 He has promised deliverance。 〃I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents；〃 He has declared； 〃and have mercy on his dwelling places。〃 Jeremiah 30：18。
Then will the purpose of God be fulfilled； the principles of His kingdom will be honored by all beneath the sun。
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Chapter 44
In the Lions' Den
When Darius the Median took the throne formerly occupied by the Babylonian rulers； he at once proceeded to reorganize the government。 He 〃set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes； 。 。 。 and over these three presidents； of whom Daniel was first： that the princes might give accounts unto them； and the king should have no damage。 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes； because an excellent spirit was in him； and the king thought to set him over the whole realm。〃
The honors bestowed upon Daniel excited the jealousy of the leading men of the kingdom； and they sought for occasion of complaint against him。 But they could find none； 〃forasmuch as he was faithful； neither was there any error or fault found in him。
Daniel's blameless conduct excited still further the jealousy of his enemies。 〃We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel；〃 they were constrained to acknowledge； 〃except
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we find it against him concerning the law of his God。
Thereupon the presidents and princes； counseling together； devised a scheme whereby they hoped to accomplish the prophet's destruction。 They determined to ask the king to sign a decree which they should prepare； forbidding any person in the realm to ask anything of God or man； except of Darius the king； for the space of thirty days。 A violation of this decree should be punished by casting the offender into a den of lions。
Accordingly； the princes prepared such a decree； and presented it to Darius for his signature。 Appealing to his vanity； they persuaded him that the carrying out of this edict would add greatly to his honor and authority。 Ignorant of the subtle purpose of the princes； the king did not discern their animosity as revealed in the decree； and； yielding to their flattery； he signed it。
The enemies of Daniel left the presence of Darius； rejoicing over the snare now securely laid for the servant of Jehovah。 In the conspiracy thus formed； Satan had played an important part。 The prophet was high in command in the kingdom； and evil angels feared that his influence would weaken their control over its rulers。 It was these satanic agencies who had stirred the princes to envy and jealousy； it was they who had inspired the plan for Daniel's destruction； and the princes； yielding themselves as instruments of evil； carried it into effect。
The prophet's enemies counted on Daniel's firm adherence to principle for the success of their plan。 And they were not mistaken in their estimate of his character。 He quickly
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read their malignant purpose in framing the decree； but he did not change his course in a single particular。 Why should he cease to pray now； when he most needed to pray？ Rather would he relinquish life itself； than his hope of help in God。 With calmness he performed his duties as chief of the princes； and at the hour of prayer he went to his chamber； and with his windows open toward Jerusalem； in accordance with his usual custom； he offered his petition to the God of
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heaven。 He did not try to conceal his act。 Although he knew full well the consequences of his fidelity to God； his spirit faltered not。 Before those who were plotting his ruin； he would not allow it even to appear that his connection with Heaven was severed。 In all cases where the king had a right to command； Daniel would obey； but neither the king nor his decree could make him swerve from allegiance to the King of kings。
Thus the prophet boldly yet quietly and humbly declared that no earthly power has a right to interpose between the soul and God。 Surrounded by idolaters； he was a faithful witness to this truth。 His dauntless adherence to right was a bright light in the moral darkness of that heathen court。 Daniel stands before the world today a worthy example of Christian fearlessness and fidelity。
For an entire day the princes watched Daniel。 Three times they saw him go to his chamber； and three times they heard his voice lifted in earnest intercession to God。 The next morning they laid their complaint before the king。 Daniel； his most honored and faithful statesman； had set the royal decree at defiance。 〃Hast thou not signed a decree；〃 they reminded him； 〃that every man that shall ask a petition of any god or man within thirty days； save of thee； O king； shall be cast into the den of lions？〃
〃The thing is true；〃 the king answered； 〃according to the law of the Medes and Persians； which altereth not。〃
Exultantly they now informed Darius of the conduct of his most trusted adviser。 〃That Daniel； which is of the children of the captivity of Judah；〃 they exclaimed； 〃regardeth
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not thee； O king； nor the decree that thou hast signed； but maketh his petition three times a day。〃
When the monarch heard these words； he saw at