An understanding was opened to me this morning. I have questioned what the "image" of end times is that we are warned against. What is the image of Daniel in our lives for we know we won't be asked to bow to a literal statue of gold, brass, etc. It is answered in Jeremiah.Jeremiah 51:17 Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.
"No breath in them," meaning....the Holy Spirit is not in those that worship the image or that construct that image of deception! For, the image of the beast is....FALSEHOOD! That is the "great image" of Daniel. The image of the king of Babylon is DECEPTION, LIES, FALSEHOOD.
51:18 They are vanity, the work of errors; in the time of their visitation they shall perish.51:19 The Portion of Jacob is not like them; for he is the Former of all things: and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: the LORD of hosts is His name.Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Note the distinction in those that were deceived into taking the mark and those that actually worshiped his image...worshiped his lies, his falsehood. Those worshipers are written of in....11 Thessalonians 2:10-12 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
What "portion of Jacob?" The elect of Israel, the man child...those from the first age that stood against the rebellion of Satan and will again stand. The man child (-ren) are the rod of his inheritance.
51:20-23 "Thou art My battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider; With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid; I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers.Revelation 2:26-27 And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of My Father.
Why is the man child, the very elect, of end times given the "rod of his inheritance?" Because of what God uses them for....Ten times the words "with thee" are written. The "portion of Jacob," being used are the chosen from the ten lost tribes of the house of Israel....CHRISTIANS. Their testimony, which is how they are used in this spiritual war, will "break in pieces" the false shepherd and his flock of wolves dressed in sheep's clothing, break in pieces the false husbandman, the pretender and his oxen, which are his workers of iniquity. He will use the man child to break in pieces the horse and his rider of Revelation 6....the fake christ pretending to be Jesus.
They/we are His weapons of war!