Day 23 – the Message that the Demon wanted to Squelch (Part II)

Read Daniel 11: 10 – 35

The next section of the prophecy concerns the third “A” king and his name is Antiochus the Great. He would attack Egypt with 75,000 soldiers, suffer defeat, regroup and attack again. Antiochus plundered Palestine but was unable to defeat Egypt. He finally settled on a plan for an alliance with the South by sending a daughter for an arranged marriage. You are probably familiar with this daughter. Her name was Cleopatra. The alliance fails because Cleopatra falls in love and turns against her father. Antiochus the Great turns his anger against his own land and attacks the temple of Jupiter in hopes of stealing its treasures. His own people rise up and murder him and his body was never found. The actual events mesh perfectly with the prophecy given in 11: 18 – 19.
Next on the scene is Antiochus Epiphanes who would come on the scene and use bribes and gifts to gain control (Daniel 11:24). Verse 27 says “Both these kings … shall speak lies at the same table.” History records that Antiochus Epiphanes and the king of the south sat for a peace treaty, then both broke the treaty! Angry after losing another battle against the south, Antiochus turned his anger toward Israel. He slaughtered every baby he could find; every woman was raped and tortured, the temple was defiled and he force-fed pork to the priests. The temple was desolate; no one could go there to sacrifice and worship.

Daniel 11:32 prophesied that “the people who know their God shall be strong” and the book of Maccabees tells the story of the Jews who battled Antiochus and brought his reign to an end. The revolt against Antiochus started with a priest named Matthias who rose up and killed an emissary of Antiochus who was forcing Jews to bow down and worship a Greek God. Mattathias was old but he passed the torch on to his third son, Judas Maccabaeus, who would lead the Jews to victory over Antiochus Epiphanes and bring an end to his despicable, evil rule.

Q1. History tells us that the Romans would soon come on the scene to conquer and establish rule in Palestine? What purpose is served when the Romans take control of the Jews?

Q2. How does Roman rule factor into the ministry of Jesus? Why is Roman rule a critical part of the transmission of the gospel?
Hint: For guidance on the answers to these historical questions you can visit: https://www.gotquestions.org/Roman-empire.html

Final thought: Some people chose not to believe the prophecies of Daniel, because they believe it is just too incredible to be true. Choosing not to believe Daniel is their prerogative but it does not make the message untrue. Daniel is true whether we believe it or not. The whole purpose of prophecy is to teach us that God and His Word are right. If God can make a world from nothing, He can easily tell us future events that will take place in the world He created.