Tuesday, July 16, 2024

Daniel 11:20-32

20 - "His (Antiochus III's) successor (Seleucus IV Philopater) will send out a tax collector (Heliodorus) to maintain the royal splendor. But after a brief reign (7 years), he will die, though not from anger or in battle (murdered by Heliodorus)."

21-24 - "The next to come to power will be a despicable man who is not in line for royal succession (Antiochus IV Epiphanes). He will slip in when least expected and take over the kingdom by flattery and intrigue. Before him great armies will be swept away, including a covenant prince (Onias III, the high priest). With deceitful promises, he will make various alliances. He will become strong despite having only a handful of followers. Without warning he will enter the richest areas of the land. Then he will distribute among his followers the plunder and wealth of the rich (including the Temple)--something his predecessors had never done. He will plot the overthrow of strongholds, but this will last for only a short while."

25-27 - "Then he will stir up his courage and raise a great army against the king of the south (Ptolemy VI Philometor). The king of the south will go to battle with a mighty army, but to no avail, for there will be plots against him. His own household will cause his downfall. His army will be swept away, and many will be killed. Seeking nothing but each other's harm, these kings will plot against each other at the conference table, attempting to deceive each other. But it will make no difference for the end will come at the appointed time."

28 - "The king of the north (Antiochus IV) will then return home with great riches. On the way he will set himself against the people of the holy covenant (the Jews), doing much damage before continuing his journey."

29-30 - "Then at the appointed time he will once again invade the south, but this time the result will be different. For warships from western coastlands will scare him off (the Roman fleet - Roman general Popilius Laenas), and he will withdraw and return home. But he will vent his anger against the people of the holy covenant (the Jews) and reward those who forsake the covenant."

31-32 - "His army will take over the Temple fortress, pollute the sanctuary, put a stop to the daily sacrifices, and set up the sacrilegious object that causes desecration. He will flatter and win over those who have violated the covenant. But the people who know their God will be strong and will resist him."

(parentheses are mine)
 
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Limited to 15 verses per post.

 

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