THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW THEIR GOD WILL FIRMLY RESIST HIM
DANIEL 11: 25 - 35
DANIEL 11: 25 - 35
Daniel 11: 25) "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. 26) 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. 27) 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. 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.
31) "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. 32) With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him.
33) "Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. 34) When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. 35) 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. (NIV)
H.A. IRONSIDE COMMENTARY
Verses 25 - 35 describe the rule of the fearful monster who has well been called the "Antichrist of the Old Testament" because of his unfailing enmity to the people and worship of Jehovah. He is the same one we studied in the eighth chapter--the infamous and blasphemous "Little Horn" that sprang out of one of the four horns upon the Grecian goat. He was called Antiochus Epiphanes, or the splendid or magnificent. He was stirred with such hatred against the Jews and their religion, that there was no atrocity too great for this wretched king to perpetrate. He is well described as a vile person, who came in peaceably, and obtained the kingdom by flattery. As I write this description, I see in my mind another who fits this bill. This is pretty scary stuff. But this he is not in Israel.
It looks like North (Antiochus Epiphanes) went to battle against South (Pholometer) with a great and mighty army but he was unable to stand because of devices forecasted against him, namely, through the treachery of his own sons and household servant who betrayed him to Antiochus. Antiochus proposes a truce but both North and South were just lying to each other.
But Antiochus (North) was enraged by the exultation of the Jews who rejoiced at the rumors that he had been slain in Egypt. So, he marched his armies against Jerusalem. It was brutal. He spared not the aged, children, women, nor the sick. The Jews reached out to Rome for help, since Rome had helped the Grecians. This is when the Maccabees had begun to fight Antiochus.
Marching against the Maccabees, Antiochus was met by Popilius Loenus and the other Roman envoys at the head of an army. Popilius demanded that Antiochus at once cease his interference with the Jews, and bind himself to accept the decree of the Roman senate, keep the peace, and acknowledge Rome's authority. He asked for time to consider the terms, but the Romans encircled him and demanded a decision before he stepped out of the ring. Well, what would you do? Antiochus accepted the conditions, with no intention of keeping them.
The Romans didn't stay forever. When they left, Antiochus turned his wrath on the Jews once more. Some Jews aided him to punish the steadfast Jews. Antiochus set up a statue of Jupiter Olympus in the temple at Jerusalem; sacrificed a sow upon the altar, and put a stop to the oblations to Jehovah, declaring that he alone should be an object of worship. This was the placing of "the abomination that maketh desolate", predicted in verse 31 in connection with the pollution of the sanctuary and the abolition of the daily sacrifices. The faithful of Judah were horrified beyond measure at this unspeakable sacrilege and joined the Maccabees against him but were slaughtered by the thousands.
Verses 32 - 35 describe the conditions prevailing among the Jews in that awful time of suffering, never to be paralleled until the great tribulation of the last days. In fact, they picture the whole history of the people of Judah from the time when they were joined to the Roman empire right on to the time of the end, or the 70th week of which we have already spoken.
There is an interval of many centuries between verses 35 and 36. Keeping in mind this explanation to Daniel was an overview of things to come, not minute details. The history of the Kings of the North and South is now closed, and another dreadful character, of whom Antiochus Epiphanes was merely a forerunner is at once introduced; the willful king, the great personal Antichrist of the last days.
This concludes our study of Chapter 11.
You are encouraged to leave a comment with your thoughts. Also, if this ministry is a blessing to you, please share this post on your favorite social media. Thank you.
You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaslife.blogspot.com and http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com.
But Antiochus (North) was enraged by the exultation of the Jews who rejoiced at the rumors that he had been slain in Egypt. So, he marched his armies against Jerusalem. It was brutal. He spared not the aged, children, women, nor the sick. The Jews reached out to Rome for help, since Rome had helped the Grecians. This is when the Maccabees had begun to fight Antiochus.
Marching against the Maccabees, Antiochus was met by Popilius Loenus and the other Roman envoys at the head of an army. Popilius demanded that Antiochus at once cease his interference with the Jews, and bind himself to accept the decree of the Roman senate, keep the peace, and acknowledge Rome's authority. He asked for time to consider the terms, but the Romans encircled him and demanded a decision before he stepped out of the ring. Well, what would you do? Antiochus accepted the conditions, with no intention of keeping them.
The Romans didn't stay forever. When they left, Antiochus turned his wrath on the Jews once more. Some Jews aided him to punish the steadfast Jews. Antiochus set up a statue of Jupiter Olympus in the temple at Jerusalem; sacrificed a sow upon the altar, and put a stop to the oblations to Jehovah, declaring that he alone should be an object of worship. This was the placing of "the abomination that maketh desolate", predicted in verse 31 in connection with the pollution of the sanctuary and the abolition of the daily sacrifices. The faithful of Judah were horrified beyond measure at this unspeakable sacrilege and joined the Maccabees against him but were slaughtered by the thousands.
Verses 32 - 35 describe the conditions prevailing among the Jews in that awful time of suffering, never to be paralleled until the great tribulation of the last days. In fact, they picture the whole history of the people of Judah from the time when they were joined to the Roman empire right on to the time of the end, or the 70th week of which we have already spoken.
There is an interval of many centuries between verses 35 and 36. Keeping in mind this explanation to Daniel was an overview of things to come, not minute details. The history of the Kings of the North and South is now closed, and another dreadful character, of whom Antiochus Epiphanes was merely a forerunner is at once introduced; the willful king, the great personal Antichrist of the last days.
This concludes our study of Chapter 11.
MY THOUGHTS
Take a moment to think about all we have read in Chapter 11 of Daniel. God has all of the future written down. He knows what will be and who will be the actors. He knows each one of us, how we will react or respond to any given situation. He knows how far He will allow us to be tested. He knows.......HE KNOWS! And we are important to Him! Do you know Him? Click here for information about how to become His child: https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html
You are encouraged to leave a comment with your thoughts. Also, if this ministry is a blessing to you, please share this post on your favorite social media. Thank you.
You are also invited to visit Oma at http://omaslife.blogspot.com and http://omaspolitics.blogspot.com.
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