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ord； which call thee by thy name； am the God of Israel。〃 Isaiah 45：1…3。
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In the unexpected entry of the army of the Persian conqueror into the heart of the Babylonian capital by way of the channel of the river whose waters had been turned aside； and through the inner gates that in careless security had been left open and unprotected； the Jews had abundant evidence of the literal fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy concerning the sudden overthrow of their oppressors。 And this should have been to them an unmistakable sign that God was shaping the affairs of nations in their behalf； for inseparably linked with the prophecy outlining the manner of Babylon's capture and fall were the words：
〃Cyrus； he is My shepherd； and shall perform all My pleasure： even saying to Jerusalem； Thou shalt be built； and to the temple； Thy foundation shall be laid。〃 〃I have raised him up in righteousness； and I will direct all his ways： he shall build My city； and he shall let go My captives； not for price nor reward； saith the Lord of hosts。〃 Isaiah 44：28； 45：13。
Nor were these the only prophecies upon which the exiles had opportunity to base their hope of speedy deliverance。 The writings of Jeremiah were within their reach； and in these was plainly set forth the length of time that should elapse before the restoration of Israel from Babylon。 〃When seventy years are accomplished；〃 the Lord had foretold through His messenger； 〃I will punish the king of Babylon； and that nation； saith the Lord； for their iniquity； and the land of the Chaldeans； and will make it perpetual desolations。〃 Jeremiah 25：12。 Favor would be shown the remnant of Judah； in answer to fervent prayer。 〃I will be
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found of you； saith the Lord： and I will turn away your captivity； and I will gather you from all the nations； and from all the places whither I have driven you； saith the Lord； and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive。〃 Jeremiah 29：14。
Often had Daniel and his companions gone over these and similar prophecies outlining God's purpose for His people。 And now； as the rapid course of events betokened the mighty hand of God at work among the nations； Daniel gave special thought to the promises made to Israel。 His faith in the prophetic word led him to enter into experiences foretold by the sacred writers。 〃After seventy years be accomplished at Babylon；〃 the Lord had declared； 〃I will visit you； and perform My good word toward you； in causing you to return。 。 。 。 I know the thoughts that I think toward you； saith the Lord； thoughts of peace； and not of evil； to give you an expected end。 Then shall ye call upon Me； and ye shall go and pray unto Me； and I will hearken unto you。 And ye shall seek Me； and find Me； when ye shall search for Me with all your heart。〃 Verses 10…13。
Shortly before the fall of Babylon； when Daniel was meditating on these prophecies and seeking God for an understanding of the times； a series of visions was given him concerning the rise and fall of kingdoms。 With the first vision； as recorded in the seventh chapter of the book of Daniel； an interpretation was given； yet not all was made clear to the prophet。 〃My cogitations much troubled me；〃 he wrote of his experience at the time； 〃and my countenance
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changed in me： but I kept the matter in my heart。〃 Daniel 7：28。
Through another vision further light was thrown upon the events of the future； and it was at the close of this vision that Daniel heard 〃one saint speaking； and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake； How long shall be the vision？〃 Daniel 8：13。 The answer that was given； 〃Unto two thousand and three hundred days； then shall the sanctuary be cleansed〃 （verse 14）； filled him with perplexity。 Earnestly he sought for the meaning of the vision。 He could not understand the relation sustained by the seventy years' captivity； as foretold through Jeremiah； to the twenty…three hundred years that in vision he heard the heavenly visitant declare should elapse before the cleansing of God's sanctuary。 The angel Gabriel gave him a partial interpretation； yet when the prophet heard the words； 〃The vision 。 。 。 shall be for many days；〃 he fainted away。 〃I Daniel fainted；〃 he records of his experience； 〃and was sick certain days； afterward I rose up； and did the king's business； and I was astonished at the vision； but none understood it。〃 Verses 26； 27。
Still burdened in behalf of Israel； Daniel studied anew the prophecies of Jeremiah。 They were very plainso plain that he understood by these testimonies recorded in books 〃the number of the years； whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet； that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem。〃 Daniel 9：2。
With faith founded on the sure word of prophecy； Daniel pleaded with the Lord for the speedy fulfillment of these
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promises。 He pleaded for the honor of God to be preserved。 In his petition he identified himself fully with those who had fallen short of the divine purpose； confessing their sins as his own。
〃I set my face unto the Lord God；〃 the prophet declared； 〃to seek by prayer and supplications； with fasting； and sackcloth； and ashes： and I prayed unto the Lord my God； and made my confession。〃 Verses 3； 4。 Though Daniel had long been in the service of God； and had been spoken of by heaven as 〃greatly beloved；〃 yet he now appeared before God as a sinner； urging the great need of the people he loved。 His prayer was eloquent in its simplicity； and intensely earnest。 Hear him pleading：
〃O Lord； the great and dreadful God； keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love Him； and to them that keep His commandments； we have sinned； and have committed iniquity； and have done wickedly； and have rebelled； even by departing from Thy precepts and from Thy judgments； neither have we hearkened unto Thy servants the prophets； which spake in Thy name to our kings； our princes； and our fathers； and to all the people of the land。
〃O Lord； righteousness belongeth unto Thee； but unto us confusion of faces； as at this day； to the men of Judah； and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem； and unto all Israel； that are near； and that are far off； through all the countries whither Thou hast driven them； because of their trespass that they have trespassed against Thee。 。 。 。
〃To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness； though we have rebelled against Him。〃 〃O Lord； according to all Thy righteousness； I beseech Thee； let Thine anger
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and Thy fury be turned away from Thy city Jerusalem； Thy holy mountain： because for our sins； and for the iniquities of our fathers； Jerusalem and Thy people are become a reproach to all that are about us。
〃Now therefore； O our God； hear the prayer of Thy servant； and his supplications； and cause Thy face to shine upon Thy sanctuary that is desolate； for the Lord's sake。 O my God； incline Thine ear； and hear； open Thine eyes； and behold our desolations； and the city which is called by Thy name： for we do not present our supplications before Thee fo