Daniel 11:21-28

Almost 2022!  Wishing everyone a blessed New Year!

My peace comes from knowing that no matter what happens…God is in control!

When life feels too hard it could be because we are focusing more on the crisis than on Christ. Looking to God's Word during times of great suffering will help us realize God's plan is still going forward  even in the midst of suffering. Looking to God means we don't try to figure out the why. Instead, we learn to trust God in the unknowns. God says in our weakness, He is made strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10) Friend, if life feels too hard, lean deeper into God today and let Him carry you through this season. Stay close to Him. Pour out your heart and let Him comfort you as only He can. First5 

Bethlehem was just the beginning. Jesus has promised a repeat performance. Bethlehem, Act 2. No silent night this time, however. The skies will open, the trumpets will blast, and a new kingdom will begin. He will empty the tombs and melt the winter of death. The manger invites, even dares us, to believe the best is yet to be. And it could all begin today. But if it doesn’t, there’s a reason. No day is accidental or incidental. Max Lucado 

Daniel 11:21-28

21 And in his place shall arise a vile person, to whom they will not give the honor of royalty; but he shall come in peaceably, and seize the kingdom by intrigue. 22 With the force of a flood they shall be swept away from before him and be broken, and also the prince of the covenant. 23 And after the league is made with him he shall act deceitfully, for he shall come up and become strong with a small number of people. 24 He shall enter peaceably, even into the richest places of the province; and he shall do what his fathers have not done, nor his forefathers: he shall disperse among them the plunder, spoil, and riches; and he shall devise his plans against the strongholds, but only for a time. 25 “He shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South with a great army. And the king of the South shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he shall not stand, for they shall devise plans against him. 26 Yes, those who eat of the portion of his delicacies shall destroy him; his army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down slain. 27 Both these kings’ hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time. 28 While returning to his land with great riches, his heart shall be moved against the holy covenant; so he shall do damage and return to his own land. The New King James Version

This world is full of wars and fightings, which come from men’s lusts. All changes and revolutions of states and kingdoms, and every event, are plainly and perfectly foreseen by God. No word of God shall fall to the ground; but what he has designed, what he has declared, shall infallibly come to pass. While the potsherds of the earth strive with each other, they prevail and are prevailed against, deceive and are deceived; but those who know God will trust in him, and he will enable them to stand their ground, bear their cross, and maintain their conflict. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Seleucid Control of Palestine (190 b.c.) 

Antiochus III, king of Syria, expanded the boundaries of the Seleucid kingdom in numerous battles with the Ptolemies. In 221 b.c. he captured part of Palestine, only to lose most of it in 217 b.c. Returning in 201 b.c. he finally defeated the Ptolemies in 198 b.c. with the aid and support of the Jews. Palestine enjoyed freedom from Egyptian domination until 175 b.c., when a new leader, Antiochus IV, became king of Syria. His oppression of the Jews led to the Maccabean Revolt of 167 b.c. and eventual Jewish autonomy in 164 b.c.

The prince of the covenant probably refers to the high priest Onias III, who was murdered in the time of Antiochus IV Probably a reference to Greek sympathizers among the Jews. Those who desired to remain faithful to their Jewish roots far outweighed those who desired to embrace Greek culture. Antiochus’ standard operating procedure was, after infiltrating the wealthiest ranks of society and garnering their support, to be generous to them—almost to a fault. Antiochus attacked Egypt in 170 bc. Ptolemy VI, who was a boy when Antiochus attacked, was poorly influenced by his two advisors, Eulaeus and Lenaeus. Ptolemy VI’s mother was Cleopatra Syra, Antiochus’ sister. Ptolemy agreed to meet with his uncle in Memphis. Antiochus IV feigned friendship and allegedly took control of his nephew’s kingdom. This is not the end. As is typical in apocalyptic literature, events have a predetermined course that cannot be altered. On his way back from Egypt, Antiochus was short on funds and plundered the gold of the Jerusalem temple. Antiochus influenced his nephew, Ptolemy VI, to control Egypt. Faithlife Study Bible

A vile person refers to Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175–164 b.c.), who seized the throne through treachery. They shall be swept away is probably a reference to the Egyptians. The prince of the covenant refers to Onias III, the high priest in Jerusalem who bore that title. He refers to Antiochus IV Epiphanes who took from the rich and gave to the poor. The king of the South at this time was Ptolemy Philometor (181–145 b.c.) of Egypt. The trusted counselors of Ptolemy Philometor who ate at his table betrayed him. Both Antiochus and Ptolemy resorted to deceit and betrayal in working out truce arrangements. On his way back to Syria, Antiochus looted the temple in Jerusalem and killed many people. The NKJV Study Bible

Daniel 8:19 And he said, “Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation; for at the appointed time the end shall be.

Daniel 8:25 “Through his cunningHe shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human means.

Habakkuk 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.