Psalm 27

Psalm 27

Psalm 27 is one of my favorites. It's a good one to read whenever we start to feel anxious and worried. David was the author of Psalm 27 and it displays the confidence he felt in the Lord no matter what came against him. David had learned from experience that he could trust God.

We know the word of God is true and that He encourages us to trust Him, but until we have walked through the fire we haven't experienced the truth of His word. Many of you know exactly what I mean. Before difficult times ever came into our lives, we may have believed the word of God was true, but it hadn't been tested by our circumstances. But once we have experienced the faithfulness of God in our times of trouble, we can say along with David, "The Lord is my light and my salvation---whom shall I fear?"

Many hundreds of years later the Apostle Paul said a similar thing about the Lord in Romans 8:31, "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Paul was another man who, like David, had walked through fiery trials but had found the Lord faithful.

These two men came from very different circumstances and had very different lives but they served the same Lord. David was a young man tending the sheep when Samuel came along and anointed him the future king of Israel. David was so humble that he went back to tending the sheep until he was called to play music for King Saul. For a while there it looked like he was going to inherit the throne because he became a mighty general in Saul's army and even married Saul's daughter. But jealousy entered Saul's heart and he persecuted David for about fifteen years, seeking to kill him. Yet during all that time David was kept safe by the Lord, because God was for him. Eventually the Lord took King Saul out of the picture and placed David on the throne just like He had promised. Though David failed miserably several times in his personal life, we find him repenting and coming back to God. Even then he still had several trials left to face. His little baby with Bathsheba died. Some of his own children turned against him. He had battles to fight against the enemies of Israel. But til the end of his life I believe David had a heart for God and he ended up dying peacefully in bed at the age of seventy. I don't doubt that his final thoughts in life were about God and what God had done for him.

The Apostle Paul was born into an upper-class family and studied under one of the best tutors. He was part of the very elite sect of the Pharisees and was moving up through the ranks, even faster than most men his age. Paul thought he was doing great things for the Lord when he persecuted the Christians. He was fairly prideful and self-righteous and believed his observance of the Mosaic law and his zealous persecution of Christians would gain him high favor with the Lord. But then one day he came face to face with the risen Lord on the road to Damascus and he was humbled and overwhelmed. In spite of all the sins he had committed against the Lord's people, God wanted to offer him a better way of living. So for the rest of his life we find the Apostle Paul giving up everything from his former life to serve the living Lord. He trusted that no matter what came against him, God was for him. Ancient tradition tells us that the Apostle Paul ended up being martyred for the gospel but, just like David, I feel certain his final thoughts were about the Lord and about how faithful the Lord had been.

I doubt any of us will ever have to face being on the run fifteen years from a vengeful king, and most of us will never be called to gives up our lives for the gospel. But we do come face to face with troubles in this life. If we don't face them with the attitude of a King David or an Apostle Paul, our troubles might lead us to believe that God isn't for us. But He is for us! A God who didn't withhold His own precious Son from us has to be for us! If ever we have moments of doubt, all we have to do is look at the cross and what our Lord accomplished for us there. Who can come against the children of a God like that? Even when we walk through the fire, and even if we lose our lives, God will be with us. His grace is going to be be sufficient. He is going to provide exactly what we need every step of the way. I know many of my readers have faced terrible things in life, but wasn't God faithful? If you're still breathing, He's still being faithful. He's not finished with you.

We can't judge all our tomorrows by the way we feel today. We mustn't believe the lie that things will never get better. We can't judge the goodness of God by how dark the road looks right now. In this dark and fallen world, we must stand on the one thing we know to be true: the word of God. The word of God promises us that He loves us and is for us.

Psalm 27

The Lord lights my way and saves me---
Why should I fear anyone?
The Lord is the One who protects my life---
Why should I be afraid?
When wicked ones come against me
To do me harm,
They are the ones who
Will come to harm.
Even if an army comes against me,
I won't be afraid;
Even if war breaks out all around me,
My trust will be in the Lord.
I only want one thing of God,
This is all that I care about;
That I can dwell in His house
Every day of my life,
That I can enjoy His beauty
And kneel before Him in His temple.
When days of trouble come
He will Hide me under His wings;
He will protect me from the wicked ones
And lift me up above the enemy.
Then I will rule over
Those who tried to hurt me;
I will shout for joy in victory;
I will sing and praise the Lord.
Hear my prayer, Lord;
Have mercy on me and answer me.
My heart tells me to seek You
And that is what I will do.
Don't ever close Your eyes,
Or turn from me in anger;
You are the One who helps me.
Do not leave me or forsake me,
For You are my Savior.
Even if my own parents reject me,
The Lord will be my Father.
Teach me to do Your will, Lord;
Lead me in the right direction
Because my enemies would love to see me fall.
Please don't let my enemy have the victory,
Because they do nothing but lie,
And they accuse me of things I didn't do.
My confidence is in this:
The Lord will give me good things in the future
And will bless me in this life.
Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and brave
And wait for the Lord.

Living Lives Of Purpose: Lessons From The Book Of Daniel, Day 39. Conclusion

Living Lives Of Purpose:
Lessons From The Book Of Daniel
Day 39

Conclusion

The angel has been telling Daniel of the wicked king of the end times known as the Antichrist. This person will establish a one-world government, which will be a dictatorship. He will be the leader of the government and also the general of the war machine, into which he will pour all the resources he can muster. He will also set up a one-world religion and demand that all worship be directed to him. But before the angel informs Daniel that it will be a time of trouble for the Jews like never before, he paused at the end of Chapter 11 to assure Daniel that the wicked king will come to his end. The time of trouble won't last forever.

Now we move on to Chapter 12, the conclusion of the book of Daniel. The angel says, "At that time Michael, the prince who protects your people, will arise." (Daniel 12:1a) The phrase "at that time" picks up where Chapter 11 left off, when we found the Antichrist waging war on every front. 

Michael is the archangel assigned to the nation of Israel. Earlier in Daniel we found the angel Gabriel referring to him as "one of the chief princes" (Daniel 10:13) and calling him "your prince" to Daniel (Daniel 10:21) In Chapter 10 we found Michael fighting on the side of the people of Israel. He is also mentioned in the book of Jude, "But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of  Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, 'The Lord rebuke you!'" (Jude 1:9) Moses died on a mountaintop after viewing the promised land from a distance, then the Lord buried him there. No man knows the location of Moses' grave. Evidently two of the Lord's angels (the fallen angel Satan and the faithful archangel Michael) argued over the interment of Moses' body. Satan may have wanted Moses' resting place made known, perhaps to entice the children of Israel into idolatry. The devil may have hoped the people would revere Moses as a type of God, worshiping him and praying to him, building a shrine or temple to him at the location of his burial. Michael, acting on behalf of God and in God's power, won the dispute and to this day no human being knows where Moses is buried. Satan knew idolatry lurked in the hearts of the people who had been brought out of Egypt, where idolatry was in their face twenty-four hours a day. He intended that the grave of Moses be a snare to them, but God's will prevailed as it always does. The book of Revelation tells us that Michael and his angels fought against Satan and his rebellious angels, overcoming them and throwing them out of heaven. (Revelation 12:7-9) The world often tries to present Satan to us as God's counterpart, His arch enemy, as if they are equals. But Satan isn't even the equal of the archangel Michael, much less the equal of God. 

In the time of the fiercest persecution, Michael the archangel will stand and fight for Israel in the most heated battle of all. "There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people---everyone whose name is found written in the book---will be delivered." (Daniel 12:1b) The prophet Jeremiah foresaw the Great Tribulation and said of it, "How awful that day will be! No other will be like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it." (Jeremiah 30:7) If we thought leaders like Antiochus IV Epiphanes and Adolf Hitler hated the Jews, their rage will pale in comparison to that of the Antichrist. Satan hates God's covenant people because Satan hates God. The only way he can strike back at God is through God's people. But he will not prevail over them anymore than he prevailed over the body of Moses. In that day, "They will serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them." (Jeremiah 30:9) "David their king" here is the Lord Jesus Christ, the king from the line of David, the Messiah and Risen One. The last thing Satan wants is for Israel to accept Jesus Christ as Messiah and King, but he will not be able to prevent this.

Next we find one of many Old Testament references to the resurrection of the dead, "Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever." (Daniel 12:2-3) There will be people still alive on the earth when Christ returns to rule the world, so the angel does not say all will rise but that multitudes will rise. If we ever needed any more proof that there is no such thing as a universal salvation, this is it. All of mankind will not be saved, but in the end each person receives the fate he or she chose for themselves. Those who were faithful to the Lord rise to everlasting life, receiving rewards for what they have accomplished in His name, such as sharing the gospel and leading others to the Lord. These bear no shame or contempt because they accepted Christ who bore the shame and contempt for them. Those who rejected Him rise from the dead to spend eternity in exile from His presence, condemned by their sins, forever bearing their burden of shame. 

"But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge." (Daniel 12:4) It was customary to place important documents inside jars and to seal the lids with wax to protect and preserve the documents. Daniel is not told to keep the prophecy from the people, but to preserve it. It was also sealed in the sense that it could not really be understood until the things contained in the prophecy began to come to pass. 

"Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, 'How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?' The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by Him who lives forever, saying, 'It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.'" (Daniel 12:5-7) The man clothed in linen is the one who has been giving Daniel the prophecy and he says that the worst part of the Great Tribulation, the time of Jacob's trouble, will last for three and a half years. As we recall, the Antichrist will broker a peace deal in the Middle East, a seven-year cease fire, but halfway through the seven years he will stop all sacrifice and offering to God and will set himself up in the temple and demand to be worshiped. The final three and a half years of the Great Tribulation will be the worst trouble the Jews have ever experienced. The Lord Jesus predicted this day and gave the people a sign to watch for, "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel---let the reader understand---then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." (Matthew 24:15-16) In Jesus' day the desecration of the temple by Antiochus IV Epiphanes was in the past, and the people understood that Daniel's prediction of this had already been fulfilled. They could, therefore, also trust that Daniel's prediction of the wicked king of the end times would come to pass. The Antichrist will desecrate the third temple in a manner similar to that of Antiochus, and when the people of Israel see it they are to flee Jerusalem while they still can. 

From his standpoint on the timeline of history, Daniel could not make sense of all the kings and kingdoms that have been involved in this prophecy, or how all these things would come about. "I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, 'My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?'" (Daniel 12:8) 

"He replied, 'Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.'" (Daniel 12:9-10) Looking back through time, we can now see that much of Daniel's prophecy has already been fulfilled. The kings and kingdoms described in it have risen and fallen. All that remains to be fulfilled is the final portion regarding the times of the end. Daniel lived before Christ and since Daniel's day many have been purified and made spotless by the blood of the Lamb. Many more will be purified and made spotless as they come to faith in Him. But there are those who will never want to know Him, who wouldn't choose Him under any circumstances. These are those of whom the Lord said, "If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead." (Luke 16:31) So the angel says that the wicked will continue to be wicked, they will never be convinced, they will never surrender their lives to the One who surrendered His life for them. They will not understand, not because they are incapable, but because they choose not to understand. If the inability to understand was something they could not help, there would be no punishment for it. But since the reward of the wicked is exile from the presence of God and the presence of His saints, along with eternal shame and contempt, we know that the failure to understand is voluntary.

"From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days." (Daniel 12:11-12) We find another reference to three and a half years in the 1,290 days. There is also the addition of forty-five days, at the end of which there is a blessing for the ones who wait for it. There is so much debate and confusion and disagreement about the meaning of the extra forty-five days that I can't offer a firm conclusion about it. Christ returns at the end of the three and a half years, so some scholars believe it takes forty-five days to judge the people of the earth, and blessed are the ones who reach the end because this means they have made it through the judgment and have been found not guilty through the blood of Christ. Another, and quite good, theory is that it may take forty-five days to cleanse the temple of the desecration perpetrated upon it by the Antichrist. This is probably one of those prophecies we will not understand until the appointed time comes.

Like anyone else would in his situation, Daniel wants to know more. Like any other child of God, he eagerly desires to understand all the details about the Lord's coming kingdom. But the angel says, "As for you, go your way until the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance." (Daniel 12:13)

When we read the beautiful and precious promises of Scripture, we look around at this old fallen world and long for Christ's appearing. We pray not only "Your kingdom come" but "Your kingdom come today". We want to be done with troubles and trials. We long to see Christ seated on David's throne ruling the world in peace and righteousness. There are days when we receive unpleasant news or turn the TV on only to hear horrific stories of inhumanity, and our hearts cry out, "My Lord, what will the outcome of all this be?" And our Lord says to us the same thing the angel said to Daniel, "Go your way. Keep being an example of the faith. Keep sharing the gospel and leading others to righteousness. The end is not yet and there is work still to be done."

I've had a hard time saying goodbye to several of the Bible characters we've studied, and Daniel is one of them. But it isn't really "goodbye". It's "see you later", because we know where Daniel is today: he is resting in the Lord. We also know where Daniel will be when Christ reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords: in His presence with us. Someday Daniel can tell us in person all the things that happened in his life and about all the awesome revelations he received. And we will be able to tell him what an example he has been to us in the faith and how his life encouraged us to live lives of purpose.

Rest well, Daniel. See you later.

We close our study of the book of Daniel with this beautiful worship song.

Jesus

Living Lives Of Purpose: Lessons From The Book Of Daniel. Day 38, The Antichrist

Living Lives Of Purpose:
Lessons From The Book Of Daniel

Day 38
The Antichrist

This week we've been studying the wicked king known as Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a man who hated the Jewish way of life and persecuted the Jews when they would not forfeit their God and their culture for his god Zeus and the Greek culture. It's not clear exactly how Antiochus met his end. Some accounts say he died of a sudden illness, others that he went mad and succumbed to a progressive psychosis, and others that he perished in battle. What we do know is that his time on earth came and went. And what we do know is that his life did not fulfill the predictions of the king depicted in the remainder of the book of Daniel. Antiochus IV was the "little Antichrist" of the Old Testament, but now Daniel's revelation moves very far into the future to another king: the Antichrist of the end times.

There's nothing unusual about the way Daniel's prophecy moves so seamlessly from the time before Christ to the time of the end. The Lord Jesus Christ presented a revelation in this same manner when prophesying the signs of the coming fall of Jerusalem and the signs of the end times in Matthew 24. Jesus wove this prophecy together as a whole, though two separate events were involved. Only half His prophecy has been fulfilled with the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The rest remains to be fulfilled: wars and rumors of wars, kingdoms rising and falling, earthquakes and famines, false Messiahs, the persecution of the Jews and the church as never before. There remains to be fulfilled the "abomination of desolation" in the temple, which cannot possibly refer to Antiochus placing a statue of Zeus in the temple and defiling the altar by sacrificing a pig on it, because in Jesus' day that was in the past. He was speaking of the wicked king of the end times, of a third temple, and of a desecration of the temple that would be the sign that people should flee Jerusalem while they still can. 

These things still remain unfulfilled in our own day, but a leader will rise or is already on the earth who will broker a seven-year peace deal in the Middle East that allows the Jews to rebuild the temple. In the middle of the seven years he will do something Antiochus Epiphanes did: he will cut off all sacrifice and offering in the temple and will demand the worship of only one god. In Antiochus' case, that god was Zeus. But in Antichrist's case, that god will be himself. He will set "himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God". (2 Thessalonians 2:4) Antiochus Ephiphanes was a prideful and arrogant man who claimed to be Zeus' representative on earth, but even he acknowledged the gods of Greece. He didn't proclaim himself the one and only god but recognized higher powers, pagan though his ideas were. Antichrist is going to go much farther. He is going to outlaw the practice of every religion on earth except the religion he presents to world, and that is the worship of himself.

"The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place. He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above all." (Daniel 11:36-37) This man will show no regard for the gods (the Hebrew elohim) of his ancestors. This gives us no clue as to the man's ancient heritage, but the Hebrew elohim is plural except when it refers to Almighty God in the person of the Trinity, and that does not clearly appear to be the case here. Some scholars have used this to suggest the Antichrist will be a Jew, but the Apostle John's revelation indicates Antichrist will be a Gentile, for he comes out of the sea. Since "the sea" or "the waters" or "the nations" are used in the Bible as symbols of the Gentiles, I tend to believe the Antichrist will be a Gentile world leader. The use of the word elohim suggests to me that his ancestry is of a nation that had many gods. And since in the book of Daniel we found the kingdom of the Antichrist rising from the remains of the ancient kingdom of Rome, I believe this indicates he will be a Gentile whose original heritage was Roman, though his forebears may have been living in another country for generations or even centuries.

There is a great deal of confusion over who the god "desired by women" is. Some suggest it was the Adonis cult of the Greek Empire or the Osiris cult of Egypt, in which women were heavily involved. In some translations this verse is rendered in a different way, that Antichrist will have no regard for the desire of women. This could mean he will be unmarried and will have no interest in establishing family relationships. Another, and more likely interpretation, is that the god "desired by women" is the Lord Jesus Christ, because it was the hope of all young godly women of Judea that they might be the one chosen to be the mother of the Messiah. 

Antichrist will care nothing for pagan gods of this world or for the one true God. "Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price." (Daniel 11:38-39) Antiochus Epiphanes did not worship a god of fortresses or a god unknown to his ancestors, nor did he dole out riches or lands to his subjects. Since we know Antichrist will allow no worship of anyone or anything but himself, the "god of fortresses" is probably not a god in the traditional sense but the worship of power, military might, and control. This fits well with the Antichrist's one-world government, a dictatorship in which subjects must obey him or die. It also suggest an enormous war machine, a one-world military into which Antichrist will pour all the resources he can get. It's interesting that the word "fortress" is synonymous with "stronghold" which is what Satan has always wanted. Since he made his first attack on mankind in the Garden of Eden, Satan has sought to gain a stronghold in people's minds and hearts. If he could not get mankind to worship him outright, he was willing to settle for giving mankind something to worship in place of God. These strongholds have taken many forms such as various types of addictions, idolatry, and even atheism which elevates man to the status of a god, because if there is no God then man is the most superior being. 

Antichrist will not rule without opposition. "At the time of the end the king of the South will engage him in battle, and the king of the North will storm out against him with chariots and cavalry and a great fleet of ships." (Daniel 11:40a) For several days in Daniel 11 we looked at kings of the North and South, but in that case they represented the Seleucid Empire (Syria) and the Ptolemaic Empire (Egypt). These cannot be the same kingdoms in view in the end times prophecy. Rome conquered the Seleucids in 65 BC and the Ptolemies in 30 BC. These dynasties are no more and the kingdoms, as they existed in ancient times, are no more. But the geography is probably the same in that the directions of north and south mean north and south of Jerusalem. Antichrist will be engaged in battle by an army coming in from south of Jerusalem. He will also be attacked by an army coming in from north of Jerusalem. Daniel uses battle images he would have been familiar with, such as warhorses and chariots, but we don't need to assume the battles of the end times will be fought with such primitive equipment. Like the Apostle John in his revelation, Daniel must resort to describing his visions with his limited knowledge of what the world would look like in the future. John could not explain to us how all the people of the whole world would be able to view two dead men lying on the streets of Jerusalem. But in our times this is no mystery to us, when we can view the news twenty-four hours a day by television or internet. With the push of a button or the click of a mouse we immediately open a window to the world and watch breaking news as it unfolds. The main thing to take away from Daniel's vision is that he foresaw both ground forces and naval forces coming against the Antichrist.

This probably occurs because, "He will invade many countries and sweep through them like a flood. He will also invade the Beautiful Land. Many countries will fall, but Edom, Moab and the leaders of Ammon will be delivered from his hand. He will extend his power over many countries; Egypt will not escape. He will gain control of the treasures of gold and silver and all the riches of Egypt, with the Libyans and Cushites in submission." (Daniel 11:40b-43) It's not clear why Edom, Moab, and Ammon will escape him except that these are age-old enemies of Israel. And since this man will be an enemy of Israel, maybe he ascribes to the adage "the enemy of my enemy is my friend". It could be he doesn't conquer these particular peoples because he doesn't have to: they are already on his side.

"But reports from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in a great rage to destroy and annihilate many." (Daniel 11:44) Those of you who studied Isaiah with me will recall that at one time King Sennacherib of Assyria was threatening siege on Jerusalem. He sent his field commander to stand outside the gates and speak blasphemous words against the God of Israel. Sennacherib wanted the people to surrender, and if they did not, his field commander promised they would soon run out of food and water and end up eating and drinking their own waste. But God said to King Hezekiah of Judah through the prophet Isaiah, "Listen! When he hears a certain report, I will make him want to return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword." (Isaiah 37:7) Sennacherib got word that the king of Cush was marching out to fight against him, so he had to abandon his planned siege on Jerusalem to return home and defend his own territory. He threatened Hezekiah that he would be back, but he never conquered Jerusalem. He was assassinated by his own sons while worshiping at a temple in his own land. Something similar will happen to the Antichrist. While he marches victoriously through other nations, laying waste to them and perhaps being on the verge of annihilating the Jews, a disturbing report will come to him, causing him to have to concentrate only on defending himself.

But like Sennacherib, his end is coming. "He will pitch his royal tents between the seas at the beautiful holy mountain. Yet he will come to his end, and no one will help him." (Daniel 11:45) The angel inserts this information out of order, before he tells Daniel in Chapter 12 of the terrible persecution to come upon the Jewish people. It's important for Daniel to know beforehand that God's people win in the end. He needs to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel, that as the Apostle Paul would later say, the Lord Jesus will overthrow this lawless one with the brightness and splendor of His appearing. (2 Thessalonians 2:8) Daniel needs to remember that when he interpreted the vision of King Nebuchadnezzar there was a rock, not cut out by human hands, that would destroy all the other kingdoms of the world. (Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45) This Rock is Christ and His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Just as the night is darkest right before the dawn, the world will be at its darkest right before the arrival of the King of kings and Lord of lords. "Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory." (Luke 21:27) 

Living Lives Of Purpose: Lessons From The Book Of Daniel, Day 37. Daniel's Revelation, Part Eight

Living Lives Of Purpose:
Lessons From The Book Of Daniel
Day 37

Daniel's Revelation

Part Eight

When we concluded yesterday Antiochus had put down what he believed was a full revolt in Jerusalem and had returned to his own country. He is about to make his fourth assault on Egypt. The last time he made a foray into Egypt he was humiliated by Rome, but he at least returned to Syria with some spoils of war. This time he will return home bitterly disappointed. "At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different from what it was before. Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart. Then he will turn back and vent his fury against the holy covenant. He will return and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant." (Daniel 11:29-30) Rome sent naval assistance to Egypt from the direction of Cyprus. Deprived of his victory, Antiochus takes out his wrath on the Jews.

Antiochus was obsessed with the project of "Hellenizing" all the territories around him. The origin of this word comes from the ancient name of Greece which was "Hellas". (The English word "Greece" is derived from the Latin "Graecia".) Hellenization involved thoroughly indoctrinating and assimilating other cultures into the Greek culture. Antiochus intended that this Hellenization should take place in Judah as well, permeating every area of the people's lives, including their religion. The purpose of the idea of Hellenization was to create a common and universal culture, just as the Antichrist will seek to do in the last days. The Antichrist will impose a one-world government and a one-world religion. Above in verse 30 we find the same spirit in Antiochus, who is against the "holy covenant" and supports those "who forsake the holy covenant". He was offering the Jews something in place of their laws and prophets, their temple, their culture, and their God. This is the way of Satan, always offering us something in place of righteous living, God's holy word, and salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. Satan says, "Assimilate into the culture of the world. Be like everybody else. Enjoy the same things as everybody else. The Bible is an outdated book filled with rules that don't apply in modern times. A man who died for your sins? What sins? Who has the right to call you a sinner? How dare anyone judge the way you live your life? You're not a sinner and you don't need a savior! Look how much more you can have of the world if you would just cast aside all the rules in that dusty old book!"

The one whom Jesus called "the prince of this world" makes an offer to mankind similar to that which he made to Jesus in the wilderness, "If you worship me, all will be yours." (Luke 4:7) Jesus said no. Many, to their own doom, have said yes. Satan keeps dragging out the same old lie because it keeps working. Antiochus fell for it. A number of wicked despots and dictators have fallen for it. Many ordinary men and women have fallen for it. But in the end, everything Satan promises is nothing but an illusion, the smoke and mirrors of a master magician. When he has used a person up, he casts him aside. 

In the meantime, Antiochus is still very much alive and ready to take advantage of the growing division among the Jews. Some broke from tradition and eagerly desired Hellenization. They wanted to be worldly and sophisticated and to join what they considered the mainstream. Others purposed in their hearts (much like Daniel) not to allow themselves to be defiled. They stood firmly on the word of God. They were swimming against the stream but determined to keep on swimming. Antiochus continued to antagonize the Jews and disrespect their traditions. A high priest under Antiochus installed a gymnasium in Jerusalem where men engaged in wrestling contests in the Greek style. This meant they wrestled unclothed, an abominable thing to the Jews. The faithful Jews considered the gymnasium a shame and disgrace and a blight on Jerusalem, just as godly people in our day would feel about a strip club or house of ill repute coming into the neighborhood. Greek learning centers were put in place to educate the youth of Jerusalem in Greek culture and religion, a thing which reminds me of the "Hitler Youth Movement". How better to control a nation than for Antiochus to absorb it into his own culture? He sought to make one people out of all: one government, one ruler, one god...and that god was Zeus. 

The ancient historian Josephus alleges that Antiochus commanded the Jews to cease reading the Torah and making sacrifice to the God of Israel in the temple. He also forbade the Jews to circumcise their sons. The refusal to comply brought about various punishments, including death. The chasm between the Hellenistic Jews and the faithful Jews continued to grow wider. The priesthood was corrupt under Jason and then Menelaus, with temple funds being diverted to pay for Greek cultural centers and stadiums for Greek games and competitions. Moneys were also being diverted to pay for Antiochus' many wars. Still there were those who remained faithful to God, observing their religion as always, until eventually Antiochus defiled the temple by setting up an image of Zeus in it, demanding that all sacrifices be brought to the god of Greece. When the people refused, he desecrated the altar by sacrificing a pig on it, rendering the altar unfit for use. This fulfills Daniel 11:31-32, "His armed forces will rise up to desecrate the temple fortress and will abolish the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him." The actions of Antiochus eventually led to the Maccabean revolt, which resulted in a liberated Jewish state for about a century.

I want to stop here and point out that there is a lot of conflicting information regarding the dates of Antiochus' various wars and his atrocities against the Jews. No Bible scholar or historian (as far as I can tell) doubts that Antiochus did all these things; it's merely the dating they disagree on. I've purposely avoided providing any specific dates for fear of passing on erroneous information. Some scholars believe Antiochus led two racially motivated campaigns against the Jews, as Daniel 11 appears to indicate, while others believe it was all part of one long ongoing process. There is no doubt he did these things, but there is some dispute about the order in which he did them. 

"Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time." (Daniel 11:33-35) No matter how scary and out of control the world looks, there is an appointed time for these things to end. The eternal plans of God are not threatened in any way by the schemes of man. Many kings and leaders have thought of themselves as gods, even greater than the Most High God, but where are they now? Where is Antiochus Epiphanes? Where is Nero? Where is Herod the Great? Where is Adolf Hitler? They are no more and their kingdoms have fallen. They were subject to death like any other mortal man. Their kingdoms have crumbled into dust. But the King of kings sits enthroned forever and His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.

Living Lives Of Purpose: Lessons From The Book Of Daniel, Day 36. Daniel's Revelation, Part Seven

Living Lives Of Purpose:
Lessons From The Book Of Daniel

Day 36

Daniel's Revelation

Part Seven

Yesterday we learned that Antiochus IV defeated Egypt in several battles and declared himself the guardian of the young Ptolemy VI Philopater of Egypt. Ptolemy VI was actually the nephew of Antiochus; as we recall his father sent Cleopatra I Syra to Egypt to be wife to Ptolemy V. Antiochus IV at this time held control over all Egypt with the exception of Alexandria, the city that now appealed to Ptolemy VIII Euergetes (the brother of the young king) and to Cleopatra II (the young king's sister) to rebel and form a rival government. Antiochus IV was needed back at home but he left a large army garrison at Pelusium in Egypt. He supported the true king, Ptolemy VI, over whom he held influence, but pretended privately to each of the brothers that he was on their side. The prophecy in verse 23 may be a bit obscure but could relate to his dealings with one of these brothers, "After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully, and with only a few people he will rise to power." (Daniel 11:23) 

"When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them and will achieve what neither his fathers nor his forefathers did. He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers. He will plot the overthrow of fortresses---but only for a time." (Daniel 11:24) Antiochus was in the process of nation-building and he attacked and annexed everything around him worth taking. Unlike the kings before him, he distributed this wealth to the cities under his control to ensure their support, even sharing his booty with the Jews to court their favor. But his goodwill toward these subjects will only continue "for a time" as the angel said.

The people of Egypt evidently blamed Ptolemy VI for their defeat. When Antiochus won a victory there and claimed Ptolemy VI as his ward, the people dethroned their king and placed his brother in charge. They did not want this puppet king to rule over them but wanted his brother to reign in his place. "With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him. Those who eat from the king's provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle. The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time." (Daniel 11:25-27) Antiochus sat at the table with Ptolemy VI and promised his help and professed his loyalty. He claimed he was going to avenge him against those who had dethroned him and place him back in charge of the nation, but Ptolemy VI knew he would never be anything but a pawn in Antiochus' game. Antiochus wanted to rule over all Egypt and over every nation around him. He was playing a game of politics. Nothing that came out of his mouth could be trusted. He went to Ptolemy VIII and made the same promises he made to his brother, I suppose to establish a bond with whichever brother eventually came out on top. The two Egyptian brothers finally ended up, without Antiochus' help, making a truce with each other and deciding to co-reign together. None of Antiochus' lies to these men will end up profiting him. Egypt is about to appeal to a nation that has become much stronger than Greece, and that nation will put the fortunes of Greece on the downswing. 

Antiochus returns to Syria only to learn that a rumor had been spreading throughout Judea that he was killed in battle. You will recall from yesterday's study that Jason, the brother of the now-dead high priest Onias, had been offered the priesthood by Antiochus for the sum of 440 talents. However, Jason's official Menelaus went to secure the deal for him and instead betrayed him, offering Antiochus 740 talents and gaining the priesthood for himself. The Jewish people were prepared to accept Jason as high priest, because although he wanted the Jews to submit to the Greek culture he was still one of their own and of the tribe of Aaron, but Menelaus was not of the priestly tribe. Menelaus had robbed the temple of some gold vessels to pay his price to Antiochus, plus another priest he appointed robbed the temple of even more vessels. This caused the Jews to hate their Greek-appointed high priest. So as soon as the people of Judea heard the rumor that Antiochus was dead, Jason gathered 1,000 men and attacked Jerusalem in an attempt to take the temple back, causing Menelaus to flee. Antiochus, very much still alive, believed the Jews were in full revolt. He was enraged and slaughtered about 40,000 men, women, and children of Jerusalem, selling another 40,000 into slavery. He then re-installed Menelaus as high priest. This fulfills verse 28, "The king of the North will return to his own country with great wealth, but his heart will be set against the holy covenant. He will take action against it and then return to his own country." 

Antiochus returns to Syria but learns Egypt has appealed to Rome for help against him. Rome was sympathetic to Egypt, not Greece, and so, "At the appointed time he will invade the South again, but this time the outcome will be different than it was before. Ships of the western coastlands will oppose him, and he will lose heart." (Daniel 11:29-30a) The Roman navy defeated Antiochus' navy. A Roman ambassador, Gaius Popillius Laenas, came to where Antiochus was camped with his troops and ordered him to evacuate Egypt immediately. If he did not cease his occupation of the country, he could consider himself at war with Rome. Antiochus wanted to buy himself time and replied he needed to discuss the matter with his council first. The elderly ambassador then took his walking stick and drew a circle in the sand around Antiochus and insisted he give his answer to Rome before stepping across that line. If he chose to step across the line without surrendering and agreeing to pay tribute with Rome, Rome would immediately declare war against Greece. Antiochus surrendered in humiliation and was allowed to return home to Syria under Roman domination. This incident is where we get the expression "drawing a line in the sand". 

Tomorrow we will spend one more day studying the fulfilled prophecies of Daniel's revelation. We will learn exactly why Antiochus IV is the "little Antichrist" of the Old Testament. Up til now he has only done the type of things many ancient kings did in their process of nation-building. He has been cruel and violent, but not in ways unlike that of any other pagan king we find in the Bible or in history. He has not yet formed a very personal and racially discriminatory hatred for the Jews. He did put down what he believed was a full-scale rebellion, but it was not racially motivated. Tomorrow we will study the atrocities this madman perpetrated against the Jews and then in the days to follow we will move on into Daniel's prophecies which remain unfulfilled. One worse than Antiochus IV Epiphanes is coming. He will hate the Jews more than anyone before him, more than any "little Antichrist" of the Bible, more than any "little Antichrist" of history such as Adolf Hitler. From verse 36 of Chapter 11 through the end of Chapter 12 (the end of the book) everything that remains of Daniel's revelation is for the future.

Living Lives Of Purpose: Lessons From The Book Of Daniel, Day 35. Daniel's Revelation, Part Six

Living Lives Of Purpose:
Lessons From The Book Of Daniel

Day 35

Daniel's Revelation

Part Six

Today we find Mithradates, now Antiochus IV Ephiphanes, reigning as king of Syria. He gained the crown not by right, but by intrigue. In today's study he begins to become one of the worst enemies the Jews have ever had.

"Then an overwhelming army will be swept away before him; both it and a prince of the covenant will be destroyed." (Daniel 11:22) Egypt had taken advantage of the situation that ensued in Syria after the assassination of Seleucus IV, during which time the murderer claimed the throne and then was ousted by Mithridates, who declared himself King Antiochus IV. While Syria was distracted by these national matters, Egypt laid claim to territories Antiochus III had conquered: Coele-Syria, Palestine, and Phoenicia. Egypt then prepared to invade these territories in person and perhaps even attack the Syrian capital and its king. Antiochus IV, a military man who had been a top general in his father's army, made a preemptive strike against Egypt by launching an invasion into that country. An infant king, Ptolemy VI Philomenter, was head of Egypt at the time, and his guardians amassed forces to meet the Syrian invasion. Antiochus IV defeated the army of Egypt between Pelusium and Mount Kasion. He took control of Pelusium and all of Egypt with the exception of Alexandria. This fulfills the prediction of the angel who said "an overwhelming army will be swept away before him". 

There is some disagreement among scholars about the identity of the "prince of the covenant" in verse 22. Some think it refers to the young Ptolemy VI, over whom Antiochus IV now reigned as his guardian. Antiochus IV left the boy-king on the throne as a figurehead but Antiochus himself was the power behind the throne. Other scholars feel the "prince of the covenant" is connected with Antiochus' dealings with the Jews. The only covenant we find in the Old Testament has to do with the one between the Lord and Israel, so I'm inclined to take the word of those who believe this refers to the assassination of the high priest Onias, which was carried out during the reign of Antiochus IV. It seems logical that the high priest who stood before God and ministered to the people would be considered a prince of the covenant. 

Seleucus IV, the brother of Antiochus IV, had enjoyed a good relationship with the Jews and allowed them their religious freedom. He even exempted the temple from certain types of taxation until near the end of his reign. But Seleucus inherited a nearly bankrupt nation because of his father's wars and the heavy tribute Syria owed to Rome. An enemy of Onias, a man named Simon who was the guardian of the temple, let it be known that the temple treasuries contained huge sums of money. It was at this time that Seleucus IV sent his minister Heliodorus (the one who would later assassinate him) to take the money. Little is known about this situation except through the apocryphal book of 2 Maccabees. But it would appear that Simon the Benjamite, the guardian of the temple, wanted the nation to assimilate into the Greek culture which had conquered them. He began to assassinate various officials of the land and Onias, who was a very devout and faithful high priest, opposed him. Onias intended to go speak to Seleucus IV in person and ask for help, but before he could carry out this plan Seleucus was murdered. 

Antiochus IV, who wanted to make all his territories as Greek as possible, sided with those at Jerusalem who opposed Onias and the Jewish culture. Antiochus IV offered the priesthood to Onias' brother Jason (who was an ally of the Greeks) for the price of 440 talents of silver. Jason did not go in person to agree to these terms but sent Menelaus, the brother of Simon the Benjamite, to take care of the matter for him. Menelaus betrayed him and asked the priesthood for himself by offering to pay the king 740 talents of silver. Menelaus apparently reneged on this bargain while Antiochus was occupied in quelling a revolt in the territories of Tarsus and Mallus. Called to account for this by a nobleman named Andronicus, Menelaus robbed the temple at Jerusalem of several gold vessels and presented them to Andronicus for payment to the king. Onias hotly condemned this action in public, causing him to have to flee for his life to Ptolemy VI in Egypt, where he resided in a sanctuary near Antioch. Learning of his location, Menelaus and Andronicus were able to lure him out into the garden with promises of peace, but they murdered him instead.

A substitute priest under Menelaus will end up robbing the temple of even more vessels, incurring the wrath of the people, and eventually a rebellion will arise with the Jewish people wanting their own man, Jason the brother of Onias, installed as high priest. Antiochus IV is not going to stand for any type of revolt. But before this happens, in tomorrow's study we find Antiochus IV keeping himself busy with what this "little Antichrist" of the Old Testament does best: engaging in deceit and betrayal. But today we don't want to miss the parallel between the intrigue with which he took the throne and the intrigue with which the Antichrist of Revelation will take the throne. The Antichrist is depicted in Revelation 6:2 as the rider on the white horse, "Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest." This rider holds a bow but no arrows, suggesting he gains the crown not by right or by battle but through intrigue, just as Antiochus IV did. We find the same prideful spirit at work in the little Antichrist and the true Antichrist, the spirit that seeks to exalt itself above God, that demands to be worshiped as God. The one whom Christ called "the father of lies" in John 8:44 used Antiochus IV. He will use the wicked man of the end times. This is what Satan does best: deceive and betray. After Satan entices a person to do his dark bidding, he betrays. He abandons. There is no reward or glory for following the father of lies into sin. Antiochus IV will die while facing certain defeat under the iron boot of Rome. The Antichrist will be thrown into the lake of fire where his master, Satan, will soon join him. The only reward promised in the Scriptures is to those who give our allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ, who loved us so much He died for us, who bestows upon us a crown that endures forever. This is the only reward worth living for. It's the only reward worth dying for, if we are called to do so. As the Apostle Paul stated, "To live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21) While we live, we who follow Christ are living lives of purpose because we live for the Lord. When we die, we who have trusted in Christ go to be with the Lord. No one else makes such an offer to us. No one else can deliver on such a promise as this. 

Living Lives Of Purpose: Lessons From The Book Of Daniel, Day 34. Daniel's Revelation, Part Five

Living Lives Of Purpose:
Lessons From The Book Of Daniel
Day 34

Daniel's Revelation

Part Five

Many details of kings and kingdoms are given to Daniel by the angel. He faithfully wrote these revelations down, although from his place on the timeline of this world he couldn't possibly have fully understood them. But he knew that future generations would understand them as they came to pass, and those future generations would know that God's word can be trusted. The study of these prophecies and their fulfillment is very important for us in our own times; we can look back and see that the revelations given to Daniel have come true exactly as God said they would. If the events of history have happened just as God said they would, then the parts that remain to be fulfilled will happen just as God said they would. His word can be trusted. 

When we concluded yesterday we found Antiochus III murdered while looting a temple of Baal. His son Seleucus IV Philopater succeeded him. The Seleucid kingdom had been defeated quite soundly by Rome and was forced to give up territories it had recently annexed in Europe and Asia Minor. Seleucus IV inherited a bankrupt nation. The cost of his father's many wars brought about a recession, plus now he owed a huge war indemnity to Rome. We find him fulfilling the prophecy given in Daniel 11:20a. Seleucus IV is the one known as "his successor", (the successor of Antiochus III), in this verse, "His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor." Seleucus tasked his minister Heliodorus with the job of collecting taxes throughout the nation and the territories it still held, such as Judah. He even instructed Heliodorus to seize the temple treasury at Jerusalem.

"In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle." (Daniel 11:20b) It is believed by many Bible scholars and historians that Heliodorus assassinated Seleucus IV. Suddenly, upon his return from collecting taxes, Heliodorus declares himself king and Seleucus IV is dead, so it stands to reason that either Heliodorus or persons in conspiracy with him assassinated the king. 

The true heir of Seleucus IV, his son Demetrius, is not in the country to claim the throne but is a hostage in Rome. Previously Antiochus III was forced to send hostages to Rome to ensure he would pay the war indemnity. One of the hostages was the son of Antiochus III, known at the time as Mithradates. However, after Seleucus IV became king he exchanged his son Demetrius for his brother Mithradates. I have not been able to find out why the switch was made. Rome may have insisted that the new king do this because they may have felt holding the king's son would have more impact on him than holding his brother. There was also the opinion that Seleucus IV displayed his antagonism against Rome by arranging for his daughter to marry a Macedonian king who was in opposition to Rome. The Roman government may have felt uneasy about the loyalty of Seleucus IV and demanded he send his son as hostage. So now we find Seleucus IV dead with his eldest son and heir not in a position to oppose Heliodorus. Seleucus had a very young son (named Antiochus) but he was not considered fit to rule due to his age. Being so young, there was nothing he could do about taking the throne from Heliodorus.

But someone is in the country who is able to do something about the usurper on the throne, and his name is Mithradates. This brother of the dead king, with the help of his supporters, has Heliodorus ousted and takes the throne for himself. Mithradates assumes both the throne and the name of his father, becoming Antiochus IV. He then adds "Ephiphanes" to his name, declaring himself to be "God manifest", in other words: "Zeus in the flesh". The angel told Daniel that Seleucus IV would be succeeded by a man not worthy to wear the crown, "He will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not been given the honor of royalty." (Daniel 11:21a) Antiochus IV was not in line for the throne. The right thing for him to have done was either try to arrange the return of Demetrius from Rome or to name himself as co-regent with the young son of Seleucus until the child was old enough to rule on his own. He does neither. The crown is within his grasp. This man whom no one in Syria would have ever pictured as king becomes king, exactly as God's word said he would.

Antiochus IV did not gain the crown either through inheritance or battle but by flattering Rome and her allies. He sent ambassadors to them, seeking their favor and friendship, so that they would not threaten his rule. He immediately continued paying back the tribute Syria owed to Rome, assuring Rome he would keep his part of the bargain. "He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue." (Daniel 11:21b) His "invasion" of the kingdom was accomplished smoothly and politically. One of his officials murdered the young son of Seleucus IV and Antiochus in turn had the official executed, although historians suspect Antiochus himself had ordered the death of the child to prevent him ever laying claim to the throne. I think it's highly likely that he orchestrated the death of the young child so he could reign unopposed. It would have been necessary that he then pass a death sentence on the assassin, both to shut him up and to give the appearance of having had nothing to do with the assassination.

Antiochus IV Epiphanes will become one of the most wicked kings of the ancient world, persecuting the Jews without mercy, defiling their temple and slaughtering tens of thousands. He is the "little Antichrist" of the Old Testament, the forerunner of the one who is to come in the last days. We study the fulfillment of the prophecies in Daniel and know that all have come true except those that remain for the end times. The test of a prophet was that he could predict events both in the near future and in the far future. If the predictions for the near future came true, then the predictions for the far future were considered trustworthy. The prophecies in the book of Daniel have been fulfilled except those that involve the last days and the time of the Great Tribulation. We can be certain that events will unfold exactly as God said they would.