For those of you that would like to dig deeper in Galatians here is a bibliography of material I am using for the study:
W. M. Ramsay, Saint Paul the Traveller and Roman Citizen (1898) An Historical Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians (1900); F. Stahelin, Geschichte der Kleinasiatischen Galater (2 Auflage, 1907); W. M. Ramsay, The Church in the Roman Empire (1911); A. H. M. Jones, Cities of the Eastern Provinces (1937); R. A. Cole, The Epistle of Paul to the Galatians (1965); E. M. Blaiklock, Cities of the New Testament (1966). E. M. Blaiklock
See you on January 3rd!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
PLEASE NOTE - NO CLASS ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 27, 2009
We will only have service at 9:30am on Sunday, December 27, 2009. If you need further information please call the Church at 913 599 6447 or visit the website at http://www.lenexabaptist.com/.
NOTES: Sunday, December 20, 2009
What a wonderful year for the class. So much clear evidence of God working around and through the class. We are blessed to be in a fellowship like this.
Last Sunday we discussed the claims of Jesus. The discussion was focused around our:
Our Desire
His Deity
His Demonstration
Here are the notes and passages for reference:
1. The Son of God (Matt 26:63-63)
2. The Son of Man (Matt 16:13; Mk 14:62)
3. Giver of eternal life (Jn 10:28)
4. One with the Father (Jn 10:30)
5. One who forgives sin (Mk 2:10)
6. The bread of life (Jn 6:35)
7. The good shepherd (Jn 10:11)
8. The true vine (Jn 15:1)
9. The great "I Am" (Jn 8:58) - We read from vs 52 to 58
10. The giver of living water (Jn 4:10)
11. The light of the World (Jn 8:12)
12. The Messiah (Jn 4:26)
His Demonstration
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" ( John 11:25-26)
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also." ( John 14:6-7)
"And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life." ( Matthew 19:29)
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." ( John 5:24)
"Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live." ( John 5:25)
"Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you, for on him has God the Father set his seal." ( John 6:27)
"And this is eternal life, that they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." ( John 17:3)
Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever he does, that the Son does likewise." ( John 5:19)
"For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me." ( John 6:38)
So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me." ( John 7:16)
So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing on my own authority but speak thus as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to Him." ( John 8:28-29)
"For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me has himself given me commandment what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has bidden me." ( John 12:49-50)
He said to them, "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world." ( John 8:23)
"No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man." ( John 3:13)
"I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father." ( John 16:28)
Jesus answered, "My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not from the world." ( John 18:36)
Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded and came forth from God; I came not of my own accord, but he sent me." ( John 8:42)
The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things.” Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he." ( John 4:25-26)
Jesus answered, "My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not from the world." ( John 18:36)
But he was silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" And Jesus said, "I am; and you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven. And the high priest tore his garments, and said, "Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?" ( Mark 14:61-64)
Pilate said to Him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice." ( John 18:37)
So the Jews gathered round Him and said to Him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness to me." ( John 10:24-25)
He Is The Messiah
By "Messiah" (Christ in the Greek language) we mean, "Anointed One", a title reserved for the expected King the Jewish people had been anticipating for hundred of years based upon many Old Testament prophecies of a descendant of David who would come and rule over both Jews and Gentiles.
Jesus, while conversing with a Samaritan woman, made this claim of be the awaited Messiah.
JOH 4:16 He said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here."
JOH 4:17 The woman answered and said, "I have no husband."Jesus said to her, "You have well said, 'I have no husband';
JOH 4:18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly. "
JOH 4:19 The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.
JOH 4:20 "Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship."
JOH 4:21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall you worship the Father.
JOH 4:22 "You worship that which you do not know; we worship that which we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
JOH 4:23 "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
JOH 4:24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
JOH 4:25 The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us."
JOH 4:26 Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am He."
He Is From Above
Here, Jesus claims that He came from above, Heaven, where God is. Although He took on the form of flesh, He was not of the earth, but was from the Divine realm.
JOH 8:21 He said therefore again to them, "I go away, and you shall seek Me, and shall die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come."
JOH 8:22 Therefore the Jews were saying, "Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, 'Where I am going, you cannot come'?"
JOH 8:23 And He was saying to them, "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.
JOH 8:24 "I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins."
JOH 8:25 And so they were saying to Him, "Who are You?"Jesus said to them, "What have I been saying to you from the beginning?
JOH 8:26 "I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world."
JOH 8:27 They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father.
JOH 8:28 Jesus therefore said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.
JOH 8:29 "And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him."
JOH 8:30 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.
He Is Eternal
Here, Jesus claims that He has always existed. He did not originate at any particular time and He will not cease to exist at any particular time. He applies the same language to Himself that Jehovah applied to Himself in Exodus Chapter 3 when He said that He was "I AM" when Moses had asked Him about what His name was. This was to indicate that He is the eternal God that has always existed. Jesus used the same language in the passage below.
JOH 8:52 The Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word, he shall never taste of death.'
JOH 8:53 "Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?"
JOH 8:54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, 'He is our God';
JOH 8:55 and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I shall be a liar like you, but I do know Him, and keep His word.
JOH 8:56 "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad."
JOH 8:57 The Jews therefore said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?"
JOH 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am."
JOH 8:59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple.
He Is Equal With The Father (God)
Jesus said that He and The Father are "one". After He said this, the Jewish people reacted by concluding that He was claiming equality with the Father (God). In other words, He was claiming to be Divine. In their view, He was blaspheming.
JOH 10:24 The Jews therefore gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, "How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly."
JOH 10:25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father's name, these bear witness of Me.
JOH 10:26 "But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep.
JOH 10:27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
JOH 10:28 and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.
JOH 10:29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
JOH 10:30 "I and the Father are one."
JOH 10:31 ¶ The Jews took up stones again to stone Him.
JOH 10:32 Jesus answered them, "I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?"
JOH 10:33 The Jews answered Him, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God."
JOH 10:34 Jesus answered them, "Has it not been written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods'?
JOH 10:35 "If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken),
JOH 10:36 do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world,' You are blaspheming,' because I said,' I am the Son of God'?
JOH 10:37 "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me;
JOH 10:38 but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father. "
JOH 10:39 Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp.
He Is The ONLY Way To God
Then, Jesus claimed to be the ONLY means that humanity has to reach and have a relationship with God. This would exclude all others along with their religious teachings and ideas.
JOH 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
JOH 14:2 "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
JOH 14:3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
JOH 14:4 "And you know the way where I am going."
JOH 14:5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?"
JOH 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.
He Is The Complete Revelation of The Father
How do we come to know about God? It is not through our feelings, through associating with some mysterious group who claims to have direct ties to God, communing with nature or by meditating within ourselves. We can only come to know God as we come to know Jesus and what He taught through His apostles. He is the full revelation of God to mankind.
JOH 14:7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him."
JOH 14:8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us."
JOH 14:9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how do you say, 'Show us the Father'?
He Would Be The One To Die For Our Sins And Be Raised From The Dead
This claim has to do with Jesus being our Savior,m pro9viding the sacrificial death needed so that we might have the oppoturnity to be forgiven of our sins. To confirm that His death would be unique, He claimed that He would be raised from the dead on the third day.
MAT 26:26 And while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."
MAT 26:27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you;
MAT 26:28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.
MAT 26:29 "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."
MAT 26:30 And after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
MAT 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, 'I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.'
MAT 26:32 "But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."
These are some of Jesus' claims. Whether we believe them or not, it is clear that Jesus claimed to be more than just a man, a teacher or a prophet. His claims go as far as being God, the Son of God. Jesus did not claim to be an angel or any other created being!
Now, why should we believe these claims that He made? What evidence is there that these claims are true? And, if they are true, what do they mean to each of us as far as our salvation is concerned?
The only way to learn what claims Jesus made is from the Bible.
A few secular historians of Jesus' day briefly mention Him, but only Bible writers give us eyewitness testimony of Jesus' life and teachings.
John 15:27 - He told His apostles that they would bear witness of Him, because they had been with Him from the beginning. [Acts 1:8]
Acts 1:21,22 - To be an apostle one had to be an eyewitness of Jesus' resurrection. [2:32; 10:39-41]
John 21:24 - John wrote his personal testimony and testified that it was true. [John 20:30,31]
1 John 1:1-3 - He bore witness about what he and others heard, saw with their eyes, and handled with their hands. This is the basis of our fellowship with God and Christ.
2 Peter 1:16-18 - Peter denies they had followed fables about Jesus. Rather they were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
1 Corinthians 15:1-8 - Paul declared the gospel he had preached, including the resurrection of Jesus. He lists various appearances, including the one he personally witnessed. Paul's testimony is also that of an eyewitness.
In 15:14,15 he said that, if Christ was not raised, then he and others were false witnesses.
The Bible writers themselves argued that their record - especially their record of the life and teaching of Christ - was based on eyewitness testimony. If their record is not accurate, they themselves acknowledge that it should be rejected as false testimony. [Luke 1:1-4]
Much evidence substantiates the historical accuracy of Bible writers, but again it is not our purpose to present this evidence. The point is that, if we do not accept the Bible record, then we know nothing about Jesus' claims. To reject aspects of the Bible record about Jesus, while still claiming to believe in Jesus, is nonsense. If we do not accept the Bible record as valid history, then we cannot possibly know what to believe about Jesus.
Jesus gave His approval to the teachings of His apostles, saying they would be inspired by the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:16; John 16:13). So we could study anything they taught about Him as having His approval. But we will restrict ourselves to what they claim He personally said or was said with His obvious knowledge.
As we study, ask yourself: Are these the claims of a mere man, even a great prophet? What if someone today were to make such claims? What Bible prophet would make such claims: Moses, Elijah, John the Baptist, Paul?
Jesus as Son of God
"Christ" is the New Testament word for the Messiah, the anointed ruler of God's people as predicted in the Old Testament. "Son of God" refers to Jesus' special relationship to the Father - a unique position no one else has - the only begotten Son (John 3:16). Did Jesus claim such positions?
Matthew 3:17 - At Jesus' baptism, the Father spoke from heaven saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Matthew 16:13-18 - Peter confessed Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus said that the Father Himself had revealed this to Peter, but He rejected as inadequate the claims that He was just a prophet. [John 6:69]
Matthew 17:5 - At the Transfiguration the Father again spoke from heaven saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." This is why we should listen to Him.
John 4:25,26 - Jesus acknowledged to the Samaritan woman that He was the Messiah (Christ).
John 9:35-37 - He told a blind man He had healed that He was the Son of God.
Matthew 26:63-66 - During His trial in the presence of His enemies, Jesus acknowledged that He was the Christ, the Son of God.
In addition, He allowed various other disciples to make such claims for Him (John 11:27; Matt. 14:33; John 1:29,34,49).
Did any other true prophet ever make such claims? Did God ever give approval to any other man to make such claims? John the Baptist expressly denied such claims for himself (John 1:19-22; 3:28).
What kind of man would Jesus be to make and allow such claims, if they were not true? Yet He not only allowed others to make such claims for Him, He praised them for making them, He made them Himself, and the eyewitnesses say that God the Father audibly made such claims for Him.
[Cf. Matt. 8:29; 12:41,42; 22:41-46; John 12:13.]
Many other people made such claims on Jesus' behalf, but we will consider cases where it was claimed by Him or in His presence. (See John 4:42; Luke 2:11; Eph. 1:7; 5:23; Acts 5:31; Titus 1:3,4; 2:13,14; 2 Peter 1:1,11; 2:20; 3:18; Col. 1:13,14; Acts 4:12.)
A. Jesus Claimed that He Came to Save Mankind from Sin.
Mark 2:3-12; Luke 7:48,49 - Jesus claimed to have power to directly forgive sins. This is a work only God can do.
Matthew 20:28 - He came to give His life a ransom for many.
Matthew 26:28 - He shed His blood for many for remission of sins.
John 8:24 - People who do not believe in Him will die in their sins.
[Luke 24:47; John 1:29,36; 12:47]
B. He Claimed that Men Can Have Fellowship with God and Eternal Life Only through Him.
John 14:6 - I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me.
John 3:13-15 - Jesus claimed He came down from heaven so that whoever believes in Him can have eternal life. [6:40]
John 10:27-29 - My sheep hear my voice and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.
Jesus does not class Himself with sinful creatures in need of salvation. He is the Savior! He claimed He could forgive sins and would die to give people remission of sins and eternal life. What true prophet or angel ever claimed such power?
If Jesus is not who He claimed to be, how could these expressions be anything but blasphemy? His own claims compel us to believe either that He is Divine or else that He was a very evil man.
[John 6:35,40,51; 8:51; 9:5; 11:25; 15:5]
A. Jesus Possesses Supreme Authority.
This is again claimed for Him repeatedly in the gospel, but we will note cases where He was personally involved in the claims. (See Phil. 3:20,21; 2:9-11; Col. 1:16; John 3:31; Rom. 9:5; 10:12; Acts 10:36; Eph. 1:21; Isa. 9:6.)
Matthew 28:18,20 - Jesus claimed to possess all authority in heaven and on earth; therefore, men should obey all His commands.
John 14:15 - He expects men to love Him, and this requires them to keep His commands. This is the kind of love that God requires (1 John 5:3).
Matthew 10:34-37 - We must love Him more than we love our closest family members, else we are not worthy of Him.
Revelation 19:16 - Jesus wears the name "King of kings and Lord of lords." He has authority above the highest of kings and rulers. [17:14]
Imagine what kind of person would make such claims, if He were merely a man! Would such a person be a good man and a great religious teacher?
[John 16:15; 17:10; Matt. 7:24-27; 5:21-48]
B. Jesus Will Judge All Men and Determine Their Eternal Destinies.
Again, this is a work only God could do (see Isa. 33:22; Psalm 50:6; 96:10,13; Rom. 2:3,5,16). Yet the gospel often claims that Jesus will do it. We will focus on passages where Jesus was present when the claim was made. (See 2 Cor. 5:10; Acts 17:31.)
John 5:22 - He said that the Father has given all judgment to Him.
Matthew 16:27 - He will come in glory with the angels and reward all men according to their works.
Matthew 25:31-46 - All nations will be gathered before Him, and He will send them into eternal punishment or eternal life.
Again, what true prophet or good man ever made such claims? If the claims are not true, what kind of man would Jesus be to make them?
[John 12:48]
As studied earlier, Jesus and other Bible teachers taught that only God deserves to receive worship. Men should not receive religious honor such as is reserved for God. (See Matt. 4:9,10; Acts 10:25,26; Rev. 22:8,9; 19:10; Rom. 1:25; Ex. 34:14; Isa. 42:8; 48:11; Rev. 9:20; 14:9-11; Ex. 20:3-6; Deut. 6:13-15 Matt. 23:8-12.)
Yet Jesus often allowed people to worship Him religiously and offer Him religious honor such as belongs only to God.
Matthew 14:33 - After Jesus had calmed the storm, the disciples worshipped Him saying He is the Son of God.
John 9:38 - After Jesus healed a blind man, the man said he believed and he worshipped Jesus.
Matthew 28:9,17 - After His resurrection, His disciples worshiped Him.
Luke 24:52 - After He had ascended back to heaven, they continued to worship Him.
So Jesus accepted worship as an act of religious honor. Jesus' own teachings would absolutely forbid this, if He was just a man, even if He was a great prophet.
[Matt. 8:2; 9:18; 15:25; Mark 5:6; Heb. 1:6; John 20:28,29]
John 5:23 - All men should honor the Son "just as" they honor the Father. To fail to so honor the Son is to fail to properly honor the Father.
John 17:5 - Jesus asked that, after He died, the Father would glorify Jesus with the glory He had with the Father before the world was. Jesus was glorified with the Father in eternity.
Once again, numerous Bible passages state that Jesus existed eternally in the past. He is not a created being - as are mere humans - but is eternal because He is Deity. But we will note passages where He was personally involved in those claims. (See John 1:1-3; Micah 5:2; Isa. 9:6; Psalm 102:24-27 cf. Heb. 1:8,10-12; Col. 1:16).
"The First and the Last, Alpha and Omega, the I Am" - We already listed passages where Jesus used these terms for Himself. But all these are names of God which imply eternal self-existence.
John 17:5,24 - Jesus had glory with the Father and the Father loved Him before the world began.
John 3:13; 6:38; 16:28 - He said He came down from the Father in Heaven and came into the world. [John 8:23]
Consider carefully all we have examined regarding Jesus' claims. Who else in the history of the world has ever made such claims and continued to receive a great following? The very nature of such claims compels us to reckon with such a person. We cannot be neutral or ignore Him. We must accept Him for exactly who He says He is, or else we must reject him as a liar or a lunatic or both. Surely he cannot be a good man and a great religious teacher, but just a human being.
But Jesus not only made these claims, He also offered evidence to substantiate them. He fulfilled prophecy, accurately predicted the future, did great miracles, and arose from the dead. That is a study of itself. (See Matt. 9:1-8; 17:1-5; 14:25-33; Luke 24:25-27,44-46; John 5:36,39; Matt. 16:21; 17:22,23; 20:17-29; 26:20-25,33-35; John 13:21-27; 5:28,29; 6:40,44; 10:24,25,37,38; 14:10,11.)
But just by themselves the claims of Jesus compel us to accept Him as the Divine Son of God, the Ruler of the Universe, and the Savior of the world, or else we must reject him as a liar, cheat, and fraud. There is no middle ground? What conclusion do you reach?
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Next Sunday (December 27) we have NO SUNDAY SCHOOL and there is only service at 9:30.
January 3, 2010 we will begin Galatians. Books are in the class. We will roughly follow the book with passages - such as the first chapter - taking us a few weeks to complete. We will go over the outline in class on the third.
Please pray for the class to be seeking God in 2010. Please pray for wisdom and guidance for me as I prepare for and teach the class.
Have a wonderful celebration of God incarnate!!!
Last Sunday we discussed the claims of Jesus. The discussion was focused around our:
Our Desire
His Deity
His Demonstration
Here are the notes and passages for reference:
1. The Son of God (Matt 26:63-63)
2. The Son of Man (Matt 16:13; Mk 14:62)
3. Giver of eternal life (Jn 10:28)
4. One with the Father (Jn 10:30)
5. One who forgives sin (Mk 2:10)
6. The bread of life (Jn 6:35)
7. The good shepherd (Jn 10:11)
8. The true vine (Jn 15:1)
9. The great "I Am" (Jn 8:58) - We read from vs 52 to 58
10. The giver of living water (Jn 4:10)
11. The light of the World (Jn 8:12)
12. The Messiah (Jn 4:26)
His Demonstration
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" ( John 11:25-26)
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also." ( John 14:6-7)
"And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life." ( Matthew 19:29)
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." ( John 5:24)
"Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live." ( John 5:25)
"Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you, for on him has God the Father set his seal." ( John 6:27)
"And this is eternal life, that they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent." ( John 17:3)
Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever he does, that the Son does likewise." ( John 5:19)
"For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me." ( John 6:38)
So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me." ( John 7:16)
So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing on my own authority but speak thus as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to Him." ( John 8:28-29)
"For I have not spoken on my own authority; the Father who sent me has himself given me commandment what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has bidden me." ( John 12:49-50)
He said to them, "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world." ( John 8:23)
"No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man." ( John 3:13)
"I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and going to the Father." ( John 16:28)
Jesus answered, "My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not from the world." ( John 18:36)
Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded and came forth from God; I came not of my own accord, but he sent me." ( John 8:42)
The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ); when he comes, he will show us all things.” Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he." ( John 4:25-26)
Jesus answered, "My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not from the world." ( John 18:36)
But he was silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?" And Jesus said, "I am; and you will see the Son of man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven. And the high priest tore his garments, and said, "Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?" ( Mark 14:61-64)
Pilate said to Him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice." ( John 18:37)
So the Jews gathered round Him and said to Him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness to me." ( John 10:24-25)
He Is The Messiah
By "Messiah" (Christ in the Greek language) we mean, "Anointed One", a title reserved for the expected King the Jewish people had been anticipating for hundred of years based upon many Old Testament prophecies of a descendant of David who would come and rule over both Jews and Gentiles.
Jesus, while conversing with a Samaritan woman, made this claim of be the awaited Messiah.
JOH 4:16 He said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here."
JOH 4:17 The woman answered and said, "I have no husband."Jesus said to her, "You have well said, 'I have no husband';
JOH 4:18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly. "
JOH 4:19 The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.
JOH 4:20 "Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship."
JOH 4:21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall you worship the Father.
JOH 4:22 "You worship that which you do not know; we worship that which we know, for salvation is from the Jews.
JOH 4:23 "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
JOH 4:24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
JOH 4:25 The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us."
JOH 4:26 Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am He."
He Is From Above
Here, Jesus claims that He came from above, Heaven, where God is. Although He took on the form of flesh, He was not of the earth, but was from the Divine realm.
JOH 8:21 He said therefore again to them, "I go away, and you shall seek Me, and shall die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come."
JOH 8:22 Therefore the Jews were saying, "Surely He will not kill Himself, will He, since He says, 'Where I am going, you cannot come'?"
JOH 8:23 And He was saying to them, "You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.
JOH 8:24 "I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins."
JOH 8:25 And so they were saying to Him, "Who are You?"Jesus said to them, "What have I been saying to you from the beginning?
JOH 8:26 "I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, these I speak to the world."
JOH 8:27 They did not realize that He had been speaking to them about the Father.
JOH 8:28 Jesus therefore said, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.
JOH 8:29 "And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him."
JOH 8:30 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.
He Is Eternal
Here, Jesus claims that He has always existed. He did not originate at any particular time and He will not cease to exist at any particular time. He applies the same language to Himself that Jehovah applied to Himself in Exodus Chapter 3 when He said that He was "I AM" when Moses had asked Him about what His name was. This was to indicate that He is the eternal God that has always existed. Jesus used the same language in the passage below.
JOH 8:52 The Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also; and You say, 'If anyone keeps My word, he shall never taste of death.'
JOH 8:53 "Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too; whom do You make Yourself out to be?"
JOH 8:54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, 'He is our God';
JOH 8:55 and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I shall be a liar like you, but I do know Him, and keep His word.
JOH 8:56 "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad."
JOH 8:57 The Jews therefore said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?"
JOH 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am."
JOH 8:59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple.
He Is Equal With The Father (God)
Jesus said that He and The Father are "one". After He said this, the Jewish people reacted by concluding that He was claiming equality with the Father (God). In other words, He was claiming to be Divine. In their view, He was blaspheming.
JOH 10:24 The Jews therefore gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, "How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly."
JOH 10:25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father's name, these bear witness of Me.
JOH 10:26 "But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep.
JOH 10:27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
JOH 10:28 and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.
JOH 10:29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
JOH 10:30 "I and the Father are one."
JOH 10:31 ¶ The Jews took up stones again to stone Him.
JOH 10:32 Jesus answered them, "I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?"
JOH 10:33 The Jews answered Him, "For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God."
JOH 10:34 Jesus answered them, "Has it not been written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods'?
JOH 10:35 "If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken),
JOH 10:36 do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world,' You are blaspheming,' because I said,' I am the Son of God'?
JOH 10:37 "If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me;
JOH 10:38 but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father. "
JOH 10:39 Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp.
He Is The ONLY Way To God
Then, Jesus claimed to be the ONLY means that humanity has to reach and have a relationship with God. This would exclude all others along with their religious teachings and ideas.
JOH 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
JOH 14:2 "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
JOH 14:3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
JOH 14:4 "And you know the way where I am going."
JOH 14:5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?"
JOH 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.
He Is The Complete Revelation of The Father
How do we come to know about God? It is not through our feelings, through associating with some mysterious group who claims to have direct ties to God, communing with nature or by meditating within ourselves. We can only come to know God as we come to know Jesus and what He taught through His apostles. He is the full revelation of God to mankind.
JOH 14:7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him."
JOH 14:8 Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us."
JOH 14:9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how do you say, 'Show us the Father'?
He Would Be The One To Die For Our Sins And Be Raised From The Dead
This claim has to do with Jesus being our Savior,m pro9viding the sacrificial death needed so that we might have the oppoturnity to be forgiven of our sins. To confirm that His death would be unique, He claimed that He would be raised from the dead on the third day.
MAT 26:26 And while they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."
MAT 26:27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you;
MAT 26:28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.
MAT 26:29 "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."
MAT 26:30 And after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
MAT 26:31 Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, 'I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.'
MAT 26:32 "But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee."
These are some of Jesus' claims. Whether we believe them or not, it is clear that Jesus claimed to be more than just a man, a teacher or a prophet. His claims go as far as being God, the Son of God. Jesus did not claim to be an angel or any other created being!
Now, why should we believe these claims that He made? What evidence is there that these claims are true? And, if they are true, what do they mean to each of us as far as our salvation is concerned?
The only way to learn what claims Jesus made is from the Bible.
A few secular historians of Jesus' day briefly mention Him, but only Bible writers give us eyewitness testimony of Jesus' life and teachings.
John 15:27 - He told His apostles that they would bear witness of Him, because they had been with Him from the beginning. [Acts 1:8]
Acts 1:21,22 - To be an apostle one had to be an eyewitness of Jesus' resurrection. [2:32; 10:39-41]
John 21:24 - John wrote his personal testimony and testified that it was true. [John 20:30,31]
1 John 1:1-3 - He bore witness about what he and others heard, saw with their eyes, and handled with their hands. This is the basis of our fellowship with God and Christ.
2 Peter 1:16-18 - Peter denies they had followed fables about Jesus. Rather they were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
1 Corinthians 15:1-8 - Paul declared the gospel he had preached, including the resurrection of Jesus. He lists various appearances, including the one he personally witnessed. Paul's testimony is also that of an eyewitness.
In 15:14,15 he said that, if Christ was not raised, then he and others were false witnesses.
The Bible writers themselves argued that their record - especially their record of the life and teaching of Christ - was based on eyewitness testimony. If their record is not accurate, they themselves acknowledge that it should be rejected as false testimony. [Luke 1:1-4]
Much evidence substantiates the historical accuracy of Bible writers, but again it is not our purpose to present this evidence. The point is that, if we do not accept the Bible record, then we know nothing about Jesus' claims. To reject aspects of the Bible record about Jesus, while still claiming to believe in Jesus, is nonsense. If we do not accept the Bible record as valid history, then we cannot possibly know what to believe about Jesus.
Jesus gave His approval to the teachings of His apostles, saying they would be inspired by the Holy Spirit (Luke 10:16; John 16:13). So we could study anything they taught about Him as having His approval. But we will restrict ourselves to what they claim He personally said or was said with His obvious knowledge.
As we study, ask yourself: Are these the claims of a mere man, even a great prophet? What if someone today were to make such claims? What Bible prophet would make such claims: Moses, Elijah, John the Baptist, Paul?
Jesus as Son of God
"Christ" is the New Testament word for the Messiah, the anointed ruler of God's people as predicted in the Old Testament. "Son of God" refers to Jesus' special relationship to the Father - a unique position no one else has - the only begotten Son (John 3:16). Did Jesus claim such positions?
Matthew 3:17 - At Jesus' baptism, the Father spoke from heaven saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Matthew 16:13-18 - Peter confessed Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus said that the Father Himself had revealed this to Peter, but He rejected as inadequate the claims that He was just a prophet. [John 6:69]
Matthew 17:5 - At the Transfiguration the Father again spoke from heaven saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." This is why we should listen to Him.
John 4:25,26 - Jesus acknowledged to the Samaritan woman that He was the Messiah (Christ).
John 9:35-37 - He told a blind man He had healed that He was the Son of God.
Matthew 26:63-66 - During His trial in the presence of His enemies, Jesus acknowledged that He was the Christ, the Son of God.
In addition, He allowed various other disciples to make such claims for Him (John 11:27; Matt. 14:33; John 1:29,34,49).
Did any other true prophet ever make such claims? Did God ever give approval to any other man to make such claims? John the Baptist expressly denied such claims for himself (John 1:19-22; 3:28).
What kind of man would Jesus be to make and allow such claims, if they were not true? Yet He not only allowed others to make such claims for Him, He praised them for making them, He made them Himself, and the eyewitnesses say that God the Father audibly made such claims for Him.
[Cf. Matt. 8:29; 12:41,42; 22:41-46; John 12:13.]
Many other people made such claims on Jesus' behalf, but we will consider cases where it was claimed by Him or in His presence. (See John 4:42; Luke 2:11; Eph. 1:7; 5:23; Acts 5:31; Titus 1:3,4; 2:13,14; 2 Peter 1:1,11; 2:20; 3:18; Col. 1:13,14; Acts 4:12.)
A. Jesus Claimed that He Came to Save Mankind from Sin.
Mark 2:3-12; Luke 7:48,49 - Jesus claimed to have power to directly forgive sins. This is a work only God can do.
Matthew 20:28 - He came to give His life a ransom for many.
Matthew 26:28 - He shed His blood for many for remission of sins.
John 8:24 - People who do not believe in Him will die in their sins.
[Luke 24:47; John 1:29,36; 12:47]
B. He Claimed that Men Can Have Fellowship with God and Eternal Life Only through Him.
John 14:6 - I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me.
John 3:13-15 - Jesus claimed He came down from heaven so that whoever believes in Him can have eternal life. [6:40]
John 10:27-29 - My sheep hear my voice and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.
Jesus does not class Himself with sinful creatures in need of salvation. He is the Savior! He claimed He could forgive sins and would die to give people remission of sins and eternal life. What true prophet or angel ever claimed such power?
If Jesus is not who He claimed to be, how could these expressions be anything but blasphemy? His own claims compel us to believe either that He is Divine or else that He was a very evil man.
[John 6:35,40,51; 8:51; 9:5; 11:25; 15:5]
A. Jesus Possesses Supreme Authority.
This is again claimed for Him repeatedly in the gospel, but we will note cases where He was personally involved in the claims. (See Phil. 3:20,21; 2:9-11; Col. 1:16; John 3:31; Rom. 9:5; 10:12; Acts 10:36; Eph. 1:21; Isa. 9:6.)
Matthew 28:18,20 - Jesus claimed to possess all authority in heaven and on earth; therefore, men should obey all His commands.
John 14:15 - He expects men to love Him, and this requires them to keep His commands. This is the kind of love that God requires (1 John 5:3).
Matthew 10:34-37 - We must love Him more than we love our closest family members, else we are not worthy of Him.
Revelation 19:16 - Jesus wears the name "King of kings and Lord of lords." He has authority above the highest of kings and rulers. [17:14]
Imagine what kind of person would make such claims, if He were merely a man! Would such a person be a good man and a great religious teacher?
[John 16:15; 17:10; Matt. 7:24-27; 5:21-48]
B. Jesus Will Judge All Men and Determine Their Eternal Destinies.
Again, this is a work only God could do (see Isa. 33:22; Psalm 50:6; 96:10,13; Rom. 2:3,5,16). Yet the gospel often claims that Jesus will do it. We will focus on passages where Jesus was present when the claim was made. (See 2 Cor. 5:10; Acts 17:31.)
John 5:22 - He said that the Father has given all judgment to Him.
Matthew 16:27 - He will come in glory with the angels and reward all men according to their works.
Matthew 25:31-46 - All nations will be gathered before Him, and He will send them into eternal punishment or eternal life.
Again, what true prophet or good man ever made such claims? If the claims are not true, what kind of man would Jesus be to make them?
[John 12:48]
As studied earlier, Jesus and other Bible teachers taught that only God deserves to receive worship. Men should not receive religious honor such as is reserved for God. (See Matt. 4:9,10; Acts 10:25,26; Rev. 22:8,9; 19:10; Rom. 1:25; Ex. 34:14; Isa. 42:8; 48:11; Rev. 9:20; 14:9-11; Ex. 20:3-6; Deut. 6:13-15 Matt. 23:8-12.)
Yet Jesus often allowed people to worship Him religiously and offer Him religious honor such as belongs only to God.
Matthew 14:33 - After Jesus had calmed the storm, the disciples worshipped Him saying He is the Son of God.
John 9:38 - After Jesus healed a blind man, the man said he believed and he worshipped Jesus.
Matthew 28:9,17 - After His resurrection, His disciples worshiped Him.
Luke 24:52 - After He had ascended back to heaven, they continued to worship Him.
So Jesus accepted worship as an act of religious honor. Jesus' own teachings would absolutely forbid this, if He was just a man, even if He was a great prophet.
[Matt. 8:2; 9:18; 15:25; Mark 5:6; Heb. 1:6; John 20:28,29]
John 5:23 - All men should honor the Son "just as" they honor the Father. To fail to so honor the Son is to fail to properly honor the Father.
John 17:5 - Jesus asked that, after He died, the Father would glorify Jesus with the glory He had with the Father before the world was. Jesus was glorified with the Father in eternity.
Once again, numerous Bible passages state that Jesus existed eternally in the past. He is not a created being - as are mere humans - but is eternal because He is Deity. But we will note passages where He was personally involved in those claims. (See John 1:1-3; Micah 5:2; Isa. 9:6; Psalm 102:24-27 cf. Heb. 1:8,10-12; Col. 1:16).
"The First and the Last, Alpha and Omega, the I Am" - We already listed passages where Jesus used these terms for Himself. But all these are names of God which imply eternal self-existence.
John 17:5,24 - Jesus had glory with the Father and the Father loved Him before the world began.
John 3:13; 6:38; 16:28 - He said He came down from the Father in Heaven and came into the world. [John 8:23]
Consider carefully all we have examined regarding Jesus' claims. Who else in the history of the world has ever made such claims and continued to receive a great following? The very nature of such claims compels us to reckon with such a person. We cannot be neutral or ignore Him. We must accept Him for exactly who He says He is, or else we must reject him as a liar or a lunatic or both. Surely he cannot be a good man and a great religious teacher, but just a human being.
But Jesus not only made these claims, He also offered evidence to substantiate them. He fulfilled prophecy, accurately predicted the future, did great miracles, and arose from the dead. That is a study of itself. (See Matt. 9:1-8; 17:1-5; 14:25-33; Luke 24:25-27,44-46; John 5:36,39; Matt. 16:21; 17:22,23; 20:17-29; 26:20-25,33-35; John 13:21-27; 5:28,29; 6:40,44; 10:24,25,37,38; 14:10,11.)
But just by themselves the claims of Jesus compel us to accept Him as the Divine Son of God, the Ruler of the Universe, and the Savior of the world, or else we must reject him as a liar, cheat, and fraud. There is no middle ground? What conclusion do you reach?
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Next Sunday (December 27) we have NO SUNDAY SCHOOL and there is only service at 9:30.
January 3, 2010 we will begin Galatians. Books are in the class. We will roughly follow the book with passages - such as the first chapter - taking us a few weeks to complete. We will go over the outline in class on the third.
Please pray for the class to be seeking God in 2010. Please pray for wisdom and guidance for me as I prepare for and teach the class.
Have a wonderful celebration of God incarnate!!!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
December
It is a great gift to be involved with such a great class!
Not only does the class work to support others, like serving the seniors on Friday night, but the class prays for one another, brings breakfast on Sunday Mornings, babysits for each other, and cleans up the Sanctuary every Sunday. Even more encouraging is the amount of servants we have that volunteer week in and week out - teaching the children, helping with service like the video ministry, and even coaching upward. We are truly blessed.
December is a great month to see how God has so clearly shown His sovereignty in our lives through our specific marriages and our family of God. We spoke a bit this morning about our commitment to encourage one another, especially the believers in Christ. We spoke about what we:
Adore about Christ
Believe about Christ
Take Counsel from Christ
I encourage each of you into next week to think about the gifts given around you as we think about the Christ who didn't just say He was the ONLY way. He also said things like "I saw satan fall" and "if you don't know Me you don't know My Father".
Next Sunday we will review how Christ is different and how this Gift is not by accident or similar to anything else.
Please pray for the prayer requests from today. Please encourage your spouse this week. Please encourage your kids this week. Think of God saying "Well done good and faithful servant" - let the rest shed off of you. Keep focused.
We love you all.
Andrew
Not only does the class work to support others, like serving the seniors on Friday night, but the class prays for one another, brings breakfast on Sunday Mornings, babysits for each other, and cleans up the Sanctuary every Sunday. Even more encouraging is the amount of servants we have that volunteer week in and week out - teaching the children, helping with service like the video ministry, and even coaching upward. We are truly blessed.
December is a great month to see how God has so clearly shown His sovereignty in our lives through our specific marriages and our family of God. We spoke a bit this morning about our commitment to encourage one another, especially the believers in Christ. We spoke about what we:
Adore about Christ
Believe about Christ
Take Counsel from Christ
I encourage each of you into next week to think about the gifts given around you as we think about the Christ who didn't just say He was the ONLY way. He also said things like "I saw satan fall" and "if you don't know Me you don't know My Father".
Next Sunday we will review how Christ is different and how this Gift is not by accident or similar to anything else.
Please pray for the prayer requests from today. Please encourage your spouse this week. Please encourage your kids this week. Think of God saying "Well done good and faithful servant" - let the rest shed off of you. Keep focused.
We love you all.
Andrew
Monday, December 7, 2009
Welcome Back!
Excited to be back blogging again after a short break for the video series on Love and Respect.
We will be updating the blog with bible study notes, calendar and announcement items, and other class or church information.
We will not be publishing personal information such as prayer requests, names, addresses, numbers, etc
As always, please feel free to ask questions or raise issues anonymously if necessary.
In Christ,
Andrew
We will be updating the blog with bible study notes, calendar and announcement items, and other class or church information.
We will not be publishing personal information such as prayer requests, names, addresses, numbers, etc
As always, please feel free to ask questions or raise issues anonymously if necessary.
In Christ,
Andrew
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Look forward to next week...
It was a great weekend. We were able to see many friends and meet new people during the weekend. I wanted only to share a couple of links with you all going into next Sunday which is the first week of the Love and Respect Study.
http://emersonandsarah.blogspot.com/
http://www.loveandrespect.com/content/weekly_Movies.php?Category=1
For anyone reading the bulletin today, I apologize for any confusion. I will check with Kelley but I am unsure how it ended up with "living in the real world" title. The study WILL begin next week, August 30. The study guides ARE $10. I would prefer that you all have 1 per couple but if you want an extra please let me know.
Have a great week!
Andrew
http://emersonandsarah.blogspot.com/
http://www.loveandrespect.com/content/weekly_Movies.php?Category=1
For anyone reading the bulletin today, I apologize for any confusion. I will check with Kelley but I am unsure how it ended up with "living in the real world" title. The study WILL begin next week, August 30. The study guides ARE $10. I would prefer that you all have 1 per couple but if you want an extra please let me know.
Have a great week!
Andrew
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thanks to Jim, Dave, and Justin
I can't say how great it has been to be able to attend both kids camp and a weekend with the whole family the last two weekends! I personally thank Jim and Dave as well as Justin in helping deliver excellent messages that challenged the class.
I know all of us say thanks for you being a servant to the class. I say thanks personally for our family.
Andrew
I know all of us say thanks for you being a servant to the class. I say thanks personally for our family.
Andrew
Monday, July 13, 2009
Notes for July 19, 2009
What a wonderful class we have. We have missed many of you with travels and working around the church. If you haven't seen someone for awhile I encourage you to call and catch up with them.
This Sunday I will be working at kids camp with Billy Mitchell. Please pray for us as we strive to set a Godly example for the children. I would ask for specific prayer for the Holy Spirit to fully develop and encourage the children through giving us patience, encouragement, and love this weekend.
Notes will be coming out for this weekend and will be posted on the blog at www.yf1a.blogspot.com
If you have a moment and can let me know if you need a book for the Love and Respect study this week that would be great. Just let me know if you need more than one or just one for you and your spouse.
Have a great week!
Andrew
This Sunday I will be working at kids camp with Billy Mitchell. Please pray for us as we strive to set a Godly example for the children. I would ask for specific prayer for the Holy Spirit to fully develop and encourage the children through giving us patience, encouragement, and love this weekend.
Notes will be coming out for this weekend and will be posted on the blog at www.yf1a.blogspot.com
If you have a moment and can let me know if you need a book for the Love and Respect study this week that would be great. Just let me know if you need more than one or just one for you and your spouse.
Have a great week!
Andrew
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Notes for July 12, 2009
Last week we covered the attached. We looked at the majority of Daniel 11. We talked about God's History, God's Heart, and God's Holding with the primary emphasis on why He trains us through chastening. We looked at how history is completely under His control. This week will will be studying the end of Daniel 11. Please read at least verses 24 on if not the entire chapter again. It is important to start with the Angel telling Daniel he will be there and seeing the specfiics of the kings/kingdoms God would allow. To see Israel embroiled in conflict between nations at war. To know we have a choice in that war as to if we take sides or simply stay with God, glorifying Him and stand fast to our calling if we are saved.
Primary questions for this week (as I am sending this out so late):
1) Where is your treasure? - be real and honest with yourselves here. I have had people many times say thingslike "my children" - don't shy away from that - if it is that answer, what do you do - you spend time with them, you take care of them, you learn about them. - do you treasure God? If so, what do you do that shows it?. If it is not God why isn't it?
2) How do you show that God is in control of everything that happens each day?
3) Do your kids, spouse, friends, co-workers say that "He/She is reliant upon God"?
4) What one thing has God taught you through chapter 11?
This week (from John MacArthur):
The Future of IsraelThe Reign of Rebellion--Part 2byJohn MacArthurAll Rights Reserved
(A copy of this message on cassette tape may be obtained by calling 1-800-55-GRACE) Daniel 11:36-45 Tape GC 27-29
Outline
IntroductionReviewI. Ahasuerus (v. 2) II. Alexander (vv. 3-8) III. Antiochus the Great (vv. 9-20) IV. Antiochus Epiphanes (vv. 21-35) LessonV. The Antichrist (vv. 36-45) A. The Timing of His Coming1. "The time of the end"2. The scope of the prophecy3. The historical record4. The timing of God's final judgment5. The similarity of description6. The prophetic contextB. The Circumstances at His Coming1. His character (vv. 36-39) a) His power (v. 36a) b) His pride (v. 36b) c) His blasphemy (v. 36c) d) His perversion (v. 37a) (1) Of tradition(2) Of love(3) Of religione) His idol (vv. 37b-39) (1) The god he will honor (vv. 37b-38a) (2) The offering he will make (vv. 38b-39) 2. His conflict (vv. 40-45) a) The cause (v. 40a-b) (1) Invasion from the South (v. 40a) (2) Invasion from the North (v. 40b) (a) Israel will be regathered(b) Israel will be at peace(c) Israel will be in its latter days(d) Israel's enemy will be far northb) The chariots (v. 40c) c) The conquest (vv. 40d-43) (1) Of north and south (v. 40d) (2) Of the Arab states (v. 41) (3) Of the Africans (vv. 42-43) d) The cataclysm (v. 44) e) The climax (v. 45a) f) The condemnation (v. 45b) Conclusion
Introduction
Daniel 11 describes God's chastening of His people Israel. Because of their sinfulness Israel was taken captive into Babylon for seventy years. God sent an angel to show Daniel that that chastening will continue through the reign of the Antichrist to the return of the Messiah. Daniel 11:1-35 details the oppression of the land and people of Israel during the Persian and Greek eras. God desires the spiritual purification of His people (Dan. 11:35). He uses suffering to accomplish that. The apostle Peter told his readers that the Lord would perfect them after they had "suffered awhile" (1 Pet. 5:10). James said that the testing of our faith produces patience, which perfects us (James 1:3-4).
Review
I. AHASUERUS (v. 2) II. ALEXANDER (vv. 3-8) III. ANTIOCHUS THE GREAT (vv. 9-20) IV. ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES (vv. 21-35)
Lesson
V. THE ANTICHRIST (vv. 36-45) Between verses 35 and 36 of Daniel we leap across centuries of persecutors to the final persecutor of Israel: the Antichrist. He will reign over the final form of the Roman Empire and preside during the final chapter of God's chastisement of Israel. The Antichrist will be all the evil power of Ahasuerus, Alexander, Antiochus the Great, and Antiochus Epiphanes combined into one person. He will be a counterfeit Christ who will make a treaty with Israel. But in the middle of the seven-year tribulation period he will break the treaty, desecrate the Temple, forbid the practice of Judaism, blaspheme God, and precipitate the holocaust of Armageddon that will end with the return of Jesus Christ. A. The Timing of His ComingThe sharp break in the flow of history that occurs at verse 36 is introduced in verse 35: "Even to the time of the end. " Up to this point Daniel 11 deals with what to us is past history. Verse 36 on reveal events that are yet future. Some Bible commentators disagree. They believe verses 36-45 refer to Antiochus Epiphanes, not the Antichrist. Because they refuse to accept that the Bible predicts future events, they are forced to explain those verses as past history. There are several reasons to suggest that a king yet future is spoken of in Daniel 11:36-45. 1. "The time of the end""The time of the end" (v. 35, cf. v. 40) is an eschatological term that points to the last days of the present age. 2. The scope of the prophecyThe scope of the prophecy goes beyond the Persian and Greek eras. In Daniel 10:14 the messenger angel tells Daniel, "I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days. "3. The historical recordWe can substantiate the historical accuracy of the prophecy in Daniel 11 up to verse 35. After that we have no historical data to explain Daniel verses 36-45. Also, there is no indication that the events recorded in those verses were fulfilled during the life of Antiochus Epiphanes. 4. The timing of God's final judgmentDaniel 11:36 says the king "shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished. " When the term "indignation" is used in the Bible in a prophetic context, it is used almost synonymously with the tribulation period--the final outpouring of God's wrath in the last days. 5. The similarity of descriptionThe ruler described in this passage is similar to other scriptural accounts of the Antichrist. Daniel 12:1 says he will reign during "a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time. " It will be worse than any other time in the history of man. Verse 2 tells us it will be followed by the resurrection, which is at the end of the last days. 6. The prophetic contextThe previous three prophecies in the book of Daniel all speak of the Antichrist. It makes sense that the final prophecy in Daniel would follow the same pattern. B. The Circumstances at His Coming1. His character (vv. 36-39) "The king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the gods of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above all. "This king has been called "the willful king" since he will operate "according to his [own] will. " He is identified by several descriptive titles in the Bible: the "little horn" (Dan. 7:8) , the "king of fierce countenance" (Dan. 8:23) , "the prince that shall come" (Dan. 9:26) , the "man of sin . . . the son of perdition" (2 Thess. 2:3; a Hebraism meaning he is doomed to destruction) , and "a beast" (Rev. 13:1). a) His power (v. 36a) "The king shall do according to his will. "The Antichrist will make his decisions as an absolute sovereign and with self-centered motives. Because he will be empowered by Satan he will give the world the baptism of hell. Because he will have demonic cooperation he will be able to establish an absolute world monarchy. His will have credibility because he will be able to do miraculous signs and wonders that deceive people. Under his rule the western world will become the protector of Israel against those who desire to control it--the Soviet Union, the East, the Arab nations, and a coalition of African nations. During the Antichrist's reign there will be other rulers, but he will be supreme over all. Revelation 17 mentions ten other kings who will be puppet kings under the Antichrist. Revelation 13 indicates he will be aided by a "false prophet" who will do his bidding. The kings of the south, north, and east will attempt to revolt against the Antichrist only after his sovereignty is established. But his power to make decisions will be absolute. His influence in the world will be so complete that he will cause all mankind to bear his mark to function in society (Rev. 13:16-17). b) His pride (v. 36b) "He shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god. "Antiochus Epiphanes was proud but he never magnified himself above every god. He religiously worshiped the gods of the Greeks and tried to force the Jews to do the same. But the Antichrist will be atheistic--setting himself above every god. The apostle Paul said he "opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God" (2 Thess. 2:4). While there have been many egoists in history, the one who will sit in the Temple claiming to be God will be the greatest of all. He will be the epitome of pride. Paul appropriately identified him as an opposer or adversary (2 Thess. 2:4) --a common description of Satan that directly links the Antichrist to the evil power behind him. The verb used in 2 Thessalonians 2:4 is translated "exalted above measure" in 2 Corinthians 12:7. The Antichrist will exalt himself above all that is worshiped--whether deities, shrines, images, or altars. He will initially tolerate religion, but at a given time he will destroy the false church (identified as "the great harlot" in Revelation 17:1). He will let the Jewish people worship in their Temple until the middle of the tribulation but then he will desecrate it--committing the abomination of desolation after the pattern of Antiochus Epiphanes and slaughtering so many Jewish people that two-thirds of them will die (Zech. 13:8). c) His blasphemy (v. 36c) "[He] shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods. "The Antichrist will be a blasphemer without equal. Revelation 13:5-6 says, "There was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies. . . . And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. " His will be the mouth of hell, and he will try to change God's moral laws (Dan. 7:25). The Hebrew text of Daniel 11:36 indicates that the "marvelous" or astonishing things the Antichrist will speak will be unbelievable. In effect, that means the intensity of his blasphemy will be unparalleled in human history. Why Will God Allow the Antichrist to Reign?God will tolerate the Antichrist's atrocities because they are part of the process God is using to purify Israel. And they will last only a short period of time! Revelation 13:5 states that the Antichrist will be given power for only forty-two months (three- and-a-half years). He will exalt himself as God for the last half of the Tribulation, until God's wrath is completely poured out. His blasphemy and oppression will finally lead the nation of Israel to recognize Jesus Christ as its Messiah and turn to Him. Nothing short of the Antichrist's reign and persecution will do that. d) His perversion (v. 37a) The angel told Daniel that the Antichrist will be perverted in three ways. (1) Of tradition"Neither shall he regard the gods of his fathers. "The King James Version translates that as "the God of his fathers," but it is better translated with the plural "gods" because the singular form of the Hebrew word is used twice in the immediate context. That means the Antichrist will not respect traditional religion of his fathers. Paul said that in the last days men will be "without natural affection" (2 Tim. 3:3). Families will fall apart because people will no longer care about their family members. There will be no respect for parents, heritage, or family tradition. While people normally respect the beliefs of their ancestors, the Antichrist will not. (2) Of love"Nor the desire of women. "That's a very difficult phrase to interpret. It could mean that the Antichrist will be a homosexual because he will lack the normal capacity to love a woman. Some think it means he will lack the gentleness and graciousness characteristic of women. Others conclude it means he won't care for the Messiah, "the desire of women" being interpreted as the hope of Jewish women to give birth to the Messiah. But in context that last interpretation seems forced since many people don't have that desire and thus it would not sufficiently distinguish the Antichrist. I believe the phrase indicates that he will not have a normal affection for a wife, mother, or sister. (3) Of religion"Nor regard any god. "Most people believe in some kind of god. When getting into trouble they usually turn to a higher source of power than themselves for help. Men invent religions because they naturally believe in the supernatural. But the Antichrist will be completely irreligious. Our world seems ready for that kind of leader. Many today aren't bothered by a man in leadership who doesn't have normal family relationships, though fifty years ago no one would have considered him. Few now seem to be bothered if a man has a perverted sexual life--homosexuality is often presented merely an alternative lifestyle. Nor is belief in God thought to be important in our society. Probably most would accept an atheist in power, especially if he pretended to be religious. e) His idol (vv. 37b-39) (1) The god he will honor (vv. 37b-38a) "He shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate [lit. "in its place"] shall he honor the god of fortresses. "The Antichrist will worship "the god of fortresses" in place of the normal human affections for family, women, and God. The Hebrew word translated "fortresses" is used six other times in Daniel 11 (vv. 1, 7, 10, 19, 31, 39). In each instance it refers to a strong place or fort, and always deals with military power. Daniel 7:23 says the fourth and final form of the Roman Empire under the rule of the Antichrist "shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. " Such incredible military power means he will be able to magnify himself above all else. He will have the intimidation of nuclear weapons or whatever other weapons of mass destruction are fashionable at his time. (2) The offering he will make (vv. 38b-39) "A god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain. "The text assumes that the Antichrist's forefathers would offer anything valuable to their deities--whether gold, silver, precious stones, or other desirable items. But the Antichrist will offer his precious metals and stones to acquire a war machine, "a god whom his fathers knew not. " Because war is so expensive he may seek to capture the world's wealth to buy armaments. The Antichrist will attack the strongest fortresses with his "foreign god" (war machine). Once he obtains control of the earth he will honor everyone who honors him with land, a leadership position, and limited independence. To insure political control he will obligate those he conquers to obey him. That kind of control has been seen in our time in atheistic communism--a militant philosophy of world domination. 2. His conflict (vv. 40-45) During the first three-and-a-half years of the Tribulation the Antichrist will obtain world dominion. During that time he will let the false church coexist with his atheistic government. He will also allow Israel certain freedoms while he honors his treaty of protection with them. But that will change. a) The cause (v. 40a-b) (1) Invasion from the South (v. 40a) "At the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him. "A revolution against the Antichrist will erupt. Holding a global empire together is an impossible task and even hell won't be able to do it. The empire the Antichrist obtained peacefully by solving some problems in the Middle East will begin to fall apart. "The king of the south" will bring an army out of Africa in an attempt to control the strategic Middle East. The Hebrew word describing that attack as a "push" comes from a word meaning "to push like a goat. "(2) Invasion from the North (v. 40b) "The king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind. "At the same time an army more powerful than the southern army will attack from the north. The Antichrist will be in control of the Middle East so those two attacks will be against him. "The king of the north" refers to the area now occupied by the Soviet Union or Russia, which desires control of the Middle East. Ezekiel 38-39 contains important evidence indicating a Russian army that will invade from the north:(a) Israel will be regatheredEzekiel 38:8 says, "After many days, thou shalt be visited; in the latter years thou shalt come into the land. " When the king of the north attacks, Israel will be regathered in its land (cf. v. 12). (b) Israel will be at peaceThe king of the north "shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to those who are at rest, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates" (v. 11). Israel will be at peace. That's precisely the nature of the first three-and-a-half years of the tribulation. The Antichrist will become the protector of Israel by making a pact with them for seven years (Dan. 9:27). The resulting peace will cause Israel to lower its defenses in misplaced reliance on the power of the Antichrist. (c) Israel will be in its latter days"In the latter days" (Ezek. 38:16) is an eschatological expression that indicates the events described in Ezekiel 38 will take place during Israel's seventieth week (the Tribulation). (d) Israel's enemy will be far northEzekiel 38:2 says, "Son of man, set thy face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. " Meshech and Tubal are the names of ancient peoples who lived in northern Mesopotamia and the Caucasus region of modern Russia. The people of the northern king are described as "Gomer, and all its hordes; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters . . . from the north parts" (Ezek. 38:6; 39:2). The Hebrew word translated "north" in those verses refers to the far north. The only country far north of Israel is Russia. According to Ezekiel 38:5 when Russia attacks it will be joined by Persia (Iran) , Cush (Ethiopia) , and Put (Libya) --representatives of an Arab alliance that will chafe under the power of the Antichrist and the western alliance. They will unite with Russia and attack his interests in the Middle East. b) The chariots (v. 40c) "[The king of the north will attack] with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships. "The king of the north will attack with the modern counterparts of chariots, horsemen, and ships--everything they've got. But according to Ezekiel 39 God will give victory to the Antichrist. Apparently five-sixths of the Russian army will be destroyed by supernatural intervention (vv. 2-5). Thus the Antichrist will win not by his own power but because God will exercise His power. c) The conquest (vv. 40d-43) (1) Of north and south (v. 40d) "[The Antichrist] shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass through. "The Antichrist will decimate the forces of Russia and those confederated with it. Only one-sixth of the northern army will survive to retreat back to its land. This is history--though it hasn't happened yet, it will. (2) Of the Arab states (v. 41) "He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown, but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. "After defeating the kings of the south and the north (the African army, the Russian army, and the Arab allies of Russia) , the Antichrist will enter into Israel ("the glorious land"). He may wonder how he won since Ezekiel 38-39 indicates it's divine intervention that will destroy the northern and southern armies. After entering Israel the Antichrist's forces will devastate the southern territory (v. 42). But verse 41 indicates that Edom, Moab, and Ammon (to the southeast of Israel) will escape his depredations. That's because He will be busy to the southwest with the African army. He won't be concerned about the southeast because it is of minimal strategic value, being mostly desert. The angel's revelation to Daniel concerning the future was remarkably specific. (3) Of the Africans (vv. 42-43) "He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. "The Antichrist will destroy both the Russian army and its Arab allies from the north, as well as the African army from the south. By those conquests he will become the master of the world. He will thus pass the first great test of his ability to subdue revolution. It's at this time that he will truly begin to sense his power. He will destroy the false church and begin to persecute Israel. He'll call for the whole world to worship him and abolish all other religions. He'll set himself up as God, tolerating no other authority and ruling in absolute supremacy. All the allies of Russia will be "at his steps" (v. 43; lit. , "in his train") , meaning they will follow him subserviently. d) The cataclysm (v. 44) "But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him; therefore, he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to sweep away many. "At this point in the tribulation the events described in Revelation 6-18 begin to unfold. God will pour out His wrath: the seven seals will be opened, the seven trumpets blown, and the seven bowls poured out. His wrath will engulf the earth while the Antichrist reigns as God. The one-sixth of the Russian army that God spared from destruction will regroup for a second attack on the Antichrist. The "tidings out of the east" (Dan. 11:44) are explained in Revelation 9:13-16: at the blowing of the sixth trumpet the apostle John "heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, Loose the four angels who are bound in the great River, Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, who were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand. "That passage describes an army that will come from the east of Israel. It may be a demonic host or it may be a human army, perhaps from communist China. Back in the May 22, 1965 edition of Time magazine (p. 35) it was reported that the Chinese standing militia numbers over 200 million--an army that has been ready for a long time and ironically knows little of the book of Revelation. The eastern army will move toward Israel desiring to gain control over the Middle East and throw off the rule of the Antichrist. According to Daniel 11:44 the Antichrist will triumph again in a second great battle. That's not surprising because he will have Satan and hell on his side helping him. e) The climax (v. 45a) "He [the Antichrist] shall plant the tabernacle of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain. "Mount Zion lies between the Mediterranean and Dead seas. In the Temple of Jerusalem the Antichrist will set up his base of operations and declare himself God. That will occur near the end of the tribulation. Israel will lie devastated as a result of war and persecution. Two thirds of the people of Israel will be killed (Zech. 13:8). But that is not the way history ends. f) The condemnation (v. 45b) "He shall come to his end, and none shall help him. "Just when he seems invincible the Antichrist will come to his end. When he thinks he has won the Battle of Armageddon the Lord Jesus Christ will descend with a sword from the sky and slay him (Rev. 19:11-21; 2 Thess. 2:8). The Antichrist will be no match for God's true King. Just prior to Christ's return Israel will reach its deepest point of sorrow, suffering, and humiliation. As He comes to their rescue they will look upon Him "whom they have pierced" (Zech. 12:10) , and they will be redeemed. They will already have been evangelized by the 144 thousand Jewish witnesses during the second three-and-a-half years of the tribulation (Rev. 7:4-10). At their lowest point they will finally accept the gospel they have heard.
Conclusion
There are three major lessons in the eleventh chapter of Daniel:A. God Is in ControlEvery detail of history is under God's control. Every ruler--Ahasuerus, Alexander, Antiochus the Great, Antiochus Epiphanes, the Antichrist, and anyone in between--has carried out His will. It's a comfort to know that history is His story. All is in His hand and there's no need to worry about the future. B. God Is Purging His PeopleGod continues to purge Israel. That purging will end in an incredible day of testing for Israel. In Luke 21:28 the Lord warned, "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth near. "C. God Will Triumph over EvilThe world's godless system will end in a holocaust and Christ will triumph over it. For those who know and love the Lord Jesus Christ that will inaugurate a blissful future that will last forever! I hope you know Him.
Thanks to all of you that have prayed and sent cards for my back. I had an MRI this morning and awaiting results.
From Last week (from John MacArthur):
The Future of IsraelThe Reign of Rebellion--Part 1byJohn MacArthurAll Rights Reserved(A copy of this message on cassette tape may be obtained by calling 1-800-55-GRACE) Daniel 11:1-35 Tape GC 27-28
Outline
Introduction
A. The Chastening of Israel
B. The Protection of Israel
Lesson
I. Ahasuerus (v. 2)
II. Alexander the Great (vv. 3-8)
A. The Extent of His Dominion
B. The Division of His Empire
C. The Resulting Conflict
III. Antiochus the Great (vv. 9-20)
A. Revenge from the North (vv. 9-10)
B. Retaliation from the South (vv. 11-12)
C. The Return of the North (vv. 13-20)
1. The Attack (vv. 13-15)
2. The Aftermath (vv. 16-20)
IV. Antiochus Epiphanes (vv. 21-35)
A. His Accession (vv. 21-24)
B. His Aggression (vv. 25-35)
1. The first attack (vv. 25-28)
2. The second attack (vv. 29-35)
a) Against Egypt (vv. 29-30)
b) Against Israel (vv. 31-35)
(1) Israel's desolation
(2) Israel's defense
Conclusion
Introduction
We live in a rebellious age. Daniel 11 chronicles an age of defiance towards God--a defiance that will last through our own time to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A. The Chastening of Israel
Within the larger context of the world's rebellion against God we read of Israel's rebellion against Him. The Old Testament affirms that Israel is God's chosen nation. Yet it also chronicles its disobedience to Him through idolatry and immorality. It defied God, spurning His grace and lovingkindness. As a result God has chastened Israel.
The chastening of Israel sets the context for Daniel 11. The prophet Jeremiah declared Israel would be punished by spending seventy years in captivity. While in captivity the prophet Daniel realized the seventy years were nearly over and expected the Jewish people to return to their land, Jerusalem to be restored, and the Temple rebuilt. But when permitted to return, only a small fragment of the people made the trip to the Promised Land. Jerusalem remained in disrepair and the Temple in ruins. Instead of responding to God's chastening, they remained entrenched in the pagan lifestyle of Babylon. The seventy-year exile in Babylon was obviously only the beginning of Israel's chastening.
Daniel was discouraged by what he saw and turned to God in prayer. He wanted to know why things hadn't turned out the way he expected. After mourning with fasting and prayer for three weeks, Daniel received the prophecy contained in Daniel 11-12. He was told that the chastening of Israel would continue until when the nation was completely restored. At that time the Messiah will establish His kingdom on earth.
B. The Protection of Israel
Daniel 11:1 says, "I [the messenger angel], in the first year of Darius, the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen [the archangel Michael]. " Michael had helped out that angel about three years previously (Dan. 10:1) when the decree allowing the Jewish people to return to their land was issued. Apparently the demon named "the prince of Persia" (Dan. 10:13) was trying to prevent that return, and that's why Michael needed assistance. That gives us insight into how the holy angels enforce God's will in the midst of demonic activity.
The messenger angel brought a revelation of God's future plans for His people. Though Daniel was told that his people would continue to suffer through the tribulation until the establishment of the millennial kingdom (Dan. 12:2) , it was a comfort for him to know that his people would be under the protection of God's holy angels throughout that period.
Daniel in the Critic's Den
Though the prophecy in Daniel 11 deals with the rise and fall of Gentile world powers, it's primarily concerned with the suffering and fate of Israel. The minute details of the prophecy have already been fulfilled in history with an accuracy that has attracted the attacks of literary critics. It so precisely predicted future events involving the Persian and Greek Empires that critics assume Daniel must have been written written after the events took place. That's based on the premise that God didn't write the Bible and they must thus conclude that the author of the book of Daniel was a liar, since he claimed to receive knowledge of future events from God prior to their actually happening. They are left with a God who doesn't know the future and a prophet of impeccable character (Ezek. 14:14, 20) who in fact behaved dishonorably. But there are many linguistic and historical reasons to authenticate the book of Daniel as prophecy. (For further information see Josh McDowell's Daniel in the Critic's Den, available from Josh McDowell Ministries, P. O. Box 1000, Dallas, Texas 75221; 1-800-222-JOSH). Daniel wasn't a liar and our God is able to tell us about the future as easily as if it were the past.
Lesson
I. AHASUERUS (v. 2)
"There shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all, and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece. "
The angel told Daniel that three Persian kings would precede a fourth, who would be stronger and richer than the others. He would attack Greece. Historically that's exactly what happened: though there were more than four Persian kings in the history of Persia, from the time of Daniel there were four, the last of whom mounted a massive assault on Greece.
The first was named Cambyses, the son of Cyrus, who was king at the time Daniel's prophecy was given (ca. 537 B. C. ; cf. Dan. 10:1). The second was a man named pseudo-Smerdis who looked so much like Cambyses that he was able to usurp the throne by deception. The third king was Darius Hystaspes, who launched a minor unsuccessful attack on Greece. The fourth was King Ahasuerus, also known as Xerxes I. He is the Persian king spoken of in the book of Esther. He had fabulous wealth and commanded one of the largest military forces ever assembled in the ancient world. With his huge army and navy he attacked Greece, but was soundly defeated by the Greeks on both land and sea. The Greeks never forgot that attack, and 150 years later took revenge on the Persians through Alexander the Great.
II. ALEXANDER THE GREAT (vv. 3-8)
"A mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven, and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those. And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion. And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement. But she shall not retain the power of the arm, neither shall he stand, nor his arm; but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begot her, and he that strengthened her in these times. But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, who shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail; and shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north. "
A. The Extent of His Dominion
The "mighty king" of verse 3 was Alexander the Great of Greece. That is affirmed by the vast majority of Bible commentators. He retaliated for the previous Persian incursions into Greece by seizing the entire Persian Empire. He conquered the western world from Greece to India, and then wept that there were no other kingdoms for him to conquer. He was a man of "great dominion" (v. 3) , and may have had a more significant impact on history than any other ruler. He was an absolute monarch with a powerful personality, great leadership ability, and a powerful army. With those assets he was able to "do according to his will" (v. 3). Israel was part of the Persian Empire at the time of Alexander's conquest, so in occupying the empire Alexander took possession of Israel.
B. The Division of His Empire
Alexander died at the age of thirty-three. No sooner did he "stand up" (v. 4) in the power of his empire than he was struck down. His empire shattered and "divided toward the four winds of heaven" (v. 4) --amongst his four generals. As Daniel 11 predicted, the empire did not go to "his posterity" (v. 4) nor remain "according to his dominion which he ruled" (v. 4).
Alexander's heirs were a mentally retarded half-brother, an illegitimate child, and a baby born after Alexander's death. They were all murdered. After a struggle for power General Cassander took Macedonia and Greece, General Lysimachus took Thrace and Asia Minor, General Seleucus took Syria (to the north of Israel) , and General Ptolomy took Egypt (to the south of Israel). The dominion of each was less than that of Alexander--just as Daniel prophesied.
C. The Resulting Conflict
Seleucus and Ptolomy produced the dynasties that Daniel 11:5-20 focuses on. The two dynasties were often at war, and since Israel was located between them, their wars were often fought in Israel or on its boarders. In those verses are recorded two centuries of conflict in which Israel was a pawn between the Ptolemaic kings in the South and the Seleucid kings to the North.
Initially, the Ptolemaic dynasty was more powerful than the Seleucid, but as time went on the northern dynasty increased in power. The two kingdoms determined to resolve increasing tension between them by an alliance. Berenice, the daughter of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (the king of the south) , married Antiochus II Theos (the grandson of Seleucus, the king of the north). That was a common method of cementing together alliances in the ancient world. Unfortunately Antiochus was already married, but he divorced his wife and went ahead with marriage to Berenice in about 250 B. C. That's exactly what the angel told Daniel would happen (Dan. 11:5-6).
The marriage did not produce any lasting peace: after the death of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, Antiochus II Theos divorced Berenice and took back his former wife, Laodice. Laodice took revenge by murdering Berenice, her son, and her attendants. She also murdered Antiochus (thus completely fulfilling verse 6). Those murders brought Laodice's son, Seleucus II Callinicus, to the throne in 246 B. C.
Berenice did not remain unavenged. The angel told Daniel, "Out . . . of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, who shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them and prevail" (v. 7). Bernice's brother Ptolemy III Euergetes, the king of Egypt at the time of Berenice's murder, brought an army against Callinicus and defeated him. As a result the angel's statement that he would "carry captive into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and gold" (v. 8) came true. History records that Ptolemy returned to Egypt with hundreds of idol statues and thousands of talents in silver.
Callinicus died from a riding accident about 226 B. C. Ptolemy III reigned in Egypt for six years after that, for the angel told Daniel that he would "continue more years than the king of the north" (v. 8). The precise way in which these prophecies were fulfilled points to the accuracy of Scripture. It also points to the continued suffering of Israel as it sat in the middle of those two warring dynasties.
III. ANTIOCHUS THE GREAT (vv. 9-20)
Liberal and conservative scholars agree that the next great king was Antiochus III the Great.
A. Revenge from the North (vv. 9-10)
"The king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land. But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces; and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through; then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress. "
Ptolemy had defeated Callinicus, the northern king, so he now controlled Israel. But Callinicus had two sons (v. 10). They raised "a multitude of great forces" (v. 10) to avenge their father's defeat--but one (Seleucus III Soter) died. The remaining son (Antiochus III the Great) became king of the north and continued the campaign against the south. He swept through Israel with a force of about 75,000 soldiers and penetrated all the way to a southern fortress.
B. Retaliation from the South (vv. 11-12)
"The king of the south shall be moved with anger, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north; and he shall set forth a great multitude, but the multitude shall be given into his hand. And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands, but he shall not be strengthened by it. "
At the time of Antiochus's invasion Ptolemy IV Philopator the king of the south was. In response to the invasion Ptolemy raised an army of 70,000 infantry, 5,000 cavalry, and 73 elephants (which were used as beasts of burden and battering rams). Ptolemy was successful and the multitude from the north was "given into his hand" (v. 11). History records that Antiochus lost 10,000 infantry, 300 cavalry, and five elephants. But Ptolemy was not strengthened by his victory--in the long run he only made Antiochus angry.
C. The Return of the North (vv. 13-20)
1. The Attack (vv. 13-15)
"The king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come, after certain years, with a great army and with much riches. And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south; also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision, but they shall fall. So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a siege mound, and take the fortified cities; and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand. "
Thirteen years after his defeat by Ptolemy, Antiochus returned to fight Egypt with "a multitude greater than the former" (v. 13). His army was assisted by "the robbers of [Daniel's] people" (v. 14). The Hebrew word translated "robbers" literally means "sons of breaking. " It refers to violent men among the Jewish people who broke the covenant law of God--apostates. They were revolutionaries who joined the cause of Antiochus as mercenaries. They apparently thought that by aiding Antiochus he would give the Jewish people their freedom. But the angel told Daniel respecting their goal, "They shall fall" (v. 14).
In 199 B. C. Antiochus's forces routed the southern army in Palestine (v. 15).
2. The Aftermath (vv. 16-20)
"He that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him; and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed. He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do; and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her, but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him. After this shall he turn his face unto the coasts, and shall take many, but a prince on his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach, he shall cause it to turn upon him. Then he shall turn his face toward the fortress of his own land, but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found. Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom, but within a few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle. "
Antiochus the Great's entry into "the glorious land"--the land of Israel--did not result in freedom for Israel. Antiochus treated the Jewish mercenaries who joined him with favor and paid them well. But he took longlasting control over Palestine, contrary to their wishes.
Antiochus decided to consolidate and strengthen his power by an alliance with Egypt. He offered "the daughter of women" (a phrase probably used to express high feminine charm) to the Egyptian king in marriage as a gesture of good faith. That woman was his daughter, the lovely Cleopatra (not the one associate with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony). Antiochus intended that she act as a spy ("corrupting her"--v. 17) at the Egyptian court, but the angel told Daniel, "she shall not stand on [Antiochus's] side, neither be for him" (v. 17). Cleopatra loved her husband more than her father.
History Is His Story
The prophecy in Daniel 11 is replete with seemingly inconsequential details. Perhaps you wonder why they're in the Bible. One reason is to show us God's control of history. He determines the boundaries of nations. He knows history from the beginning to the end because history is, quite literally, "His story. "
Once Antiochus achieved control of Palestine, his desire for conquest shifted toward "the coasts" (v. 18) --the Mediterranean islands and Greece. But that was an area in which Rome had an interest, and Antiochus was defeated in battle by a Roman army in 191 B. C. As a result Antiochus was forced to return to "the fortress of his own land" (v. 19). There he was murdered when he tried to plunder a temple dedicated to Jupiter.
Antiochus the Great was succeeded by his son Seleucus IV Philopater, who became a "raiser of taxes" (v. 20). That's because he was forced to pay Rome one thousand talents annually in reparation for injuries caused by his father's battles. His short reign was ended when he was "destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle" (v. 20) : he was assassinated by his prime minister in 176 B. C. The details of Daniel's prophecy were fulfilled precisely!
IV. ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES (vv. 21-35)
A. His Accession (vv. 21-24)
"In his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom; but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant. And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully; for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province, and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches; yea, and he shall plot against the strongholds, even for a time. "
Antiochus Epiphanes, the next northern king, was "a vile person" (v. 21). He obtained the throne by deceit and flattery in 175 B. C. He was the younger son of Antiochus the Great and had no claim to the throne. His nephew ought to have been installed as king, but was held hostage in Rome.
Antiochus devastated the Egyptians and their boy king Ptolemy VI Philometor. (The battle is described more fully in verses 25-27). He accomplished that by initially adopting a policy of friendship with Egypt while at the same time deceitfully plotting against it (v. 23). In his own territories he entered "upon the fattest places" (v. 24) , despoiling the rich and then distributing gifts to the poor--he was a self-styled Robin Hood. That gained him popular support. He also did everything possible to undermine strong communities in his kingdom so there would be no challenge to his power. He quickly put down any move against him.
B. His Aggression (vv. 25-35)
1. The first attack (vv. 25-28)
"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 plot against him. Yea, they that feed of the portion of his food shall destroy him, and his army shall overthrow, and many shall fall down slain. And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table, but it shall not prosper; for yet the end shall be at the time appointed. Then shall he return into his land with great riches, and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land. "
In 170 B. C. Antiochus's army was victorious over Ptolemy's larger Egyptian army at the battle of Pelusium. Antiochus was victorious in part because Ptolemy's counselors plotted against him (vv. 25-26). The angel told Daniel that because of the betrayal, "His army shall overflow, and many shall fall down slain" (v. 26).
Following Egypt's defeat the two kings sat down together and spoke "lies at one table" (v. 27). Their promises to each other were not intended to be fulfilled--like so many of the world's worthless treaties. The goals of the two kings remained unfulfilled because they didn't coincide with the "end" God had in mind. That end would come in God's "appointed time" in the future.
Antiochus failed to obtain complete control of Egypt because Rome intervened. Instead he turned his army north and marched through Israel. Daniel was told that Antiochus's heart "shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits" (v. 28). He pillaged the land and sacked Jerusalem, killing many Jewish people and causing terrible suffering. He then continued north "to his own land" (v. 28).
2. The second attack (vv. 29-35)
a) Against Egypt (vv. 29-30)
"At the time appointed, he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter. For the ships of Kittim shall come against him; therefore, he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant; so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with those who forsake the holy covenant. "
Many of us are familiar with movies in which, during a fight between the cowboys and Indians, a distant trumpet is heard and then the cavalry comes charging over the hill. Verse 30 gives us a similar scenario: Antiochus returned with another army to attack Egypt, but the Ptolemies had enlisted the aid of Rome. "The ships of Kittim" refers to the arrival of a Roman fleet that effectively deterred Antiochus in his attack on Egypt.
Angry and disappointed, Antiochus turned his army north. En route he vented his anger against those of "the holy covenant" (v. 30) --the faithful Jewish people. There he was supported by those Jews who had forsaken the holy covenant.
b) Against Israel (vv. 31-35)
"Forces shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries; but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help; but many shall cling to them with flatteries. And some of them understanding shall fall, to test them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end, because it is yet for a time appointed. "
(1) Israel's desolation
In Jerusalem Antiochus placed guards around the Temple to prevent worship. On a particular Sabbath he ordered that women and children be slaughtered. He required idolatrous worship and held Greek athletic contests (in which the athletes competed while naked) in full view of the Temple. Greek culture was imposed, a statue of the Greek god Zeus erected in the Temple, a swine (a ceremonially unclean animal) sacrificed on the Temple altar, and the priests were forced to eat pork from the sacrifice. All those abominations were intended to desecrate the Jewish Temple.
Although Antiochus's actions were supported by apostate Jews, Daniel was told that "the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits" (v. 32). Those who resisted Antiochus were subjected to his persecutions--typical of the persecutions by the Antichrist described in the New Testament. Their suffering was "by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil" (v. 33).
(2) Israel's defense
In response to those persecutions arose a group of Jewish people called the Hasidians. They were upholders of the law according to the apocryphal book of 1 Maccabees (2:42). Their leader was Judas Maccabeus, who lead a revolt from 168-165 B. C. His revolt "helped with a little help" (v. 34) --but was only a temporary respite from Syrian persecution. He did take bloody revenge against those Jews who had helped Antiochus, but like many revolutions, many who identified with the Maccabean revolt joined only for personal gain.
God allowed his people to be persecuted "to test them, and to purge, and to make them white" (v. 35). He wanted His people purified from sin like metal is refined from impurities. Nothing drives people to God like suffering. A person's thoughts tend to go straight up when faced with imminent destruction.
Daniel received an astonishingly complete revelation from God concerning the future suffering of the Jewish people "even to the time of the end. " They would suffer through the Persian, Greek, and Roman Empires. And they would continue to suffer up through the time of the revived Roman Empire and its ruler, the Antichrist.
God's Persistent Love for Israel
God has ordained all of history from first to last. He has determined history's notable events and its minutest happenings. He is not finished with refining Israel, and that explains why the Jewish people continue to suffer.
God is faithful to Israel in spite of her refusal to turn to Him. Our Lord said of Israel, "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life" (John 5:40). Jesus wept over Jerusalem, saying, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them who are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered they children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Matt. 23:37). Paul echoed God's words through Isaiah, "All day long have I stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and contrary people" (Rom. 10:21).
Israel's suffering is according to God's grace. Though He has every right to forget them--to write them off for their constant spiritual harlotries, disobedience, abuse of privileges, and covenant breaking--He doesn't. God will continue the purging process until "the time of the end . . . a time appointed" (Dan. 11:35).
There will come a time when "all Israel shall be saved" (Rom. 11:26). That's a great promise! All during the time of Israel's chastening the archangel Michael has watched over them, and the time will come when he will fight for them (Dan. 12:1). The Spirit of God will descend upon Israel, they'll be redeemed, and will receive their kingdom (Zech. 12:10).
Conclusion
I hope you have a heart for the Jewish people. Among them are an elect remnant who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and God calls every believer to reach out to them. An old missionary hymn puts it this way:
Shall we whose souls are lighted with wisdom from on high;
Shall we to souls benighted the lamp of life deny?
Andrew
Primary questions for this week (as I am sending this out so late):
1) Where is your treasure? - be real and honest with yourselves here. I have had people many times say thingslike "my children" - don't shy away from that - if it is that answer, what do you do - you spend time with them, you take care of them, you learn about them. - do you treasure God? If so, what do you do that shows it?. If it is not God why isn't it?
2) How do you show that God is in control of everything that happens each day?
3) Do your kids, spouse, friends, co-workers say that "He/She is reliant upon God"?
4) What one thing has God taught you through chapter 11?
This week (from John MacArthur):
The Future of IsraelThe Reign of Rebellion--Part 2byJohn MacArthurAll Rights Reserved
(A copy of this message on cassette tape may be obtained by calling 1-800-55-GRACE) Daniel 11:36-45 Tape GC 27-29
Outline
IntroductionReviewI. Ahasuerus (v. 2) II. Alexander (vv. 3-8) III. Antiochus the Great (vv. 9-20) IV. Antiochus Epiphanes (vv. 21-35) LessonV. The Antichrist (vv. 36-45) A. The Timing of His Coming1. "The time of the end"2. The scope of the prophecy3. The historical record4. The timing of God's final judgment5. The similarity of description6. The prophetic contextB. The Circumstances at His Coming1. His character (vv. 36-39) a) His power (v. 36a) b) His pride (v. 36b) c) His blasphemy (v. 36c) d) His perversion (v. 37a) (1) Of tradition(2) Of love(3) Of religione) His idol (vv. 37b-39) (1) The god he will honor (vv. 37b-38a) (2) The offering he will make (vv. 38b-39) 2. His conflict (vv. 40-45) a) The cause (v. 40a-b) (1) Invasion from the South (v. 40a) (2) Invasion from the North (v. 40b) (a) Israel will be regathered(b) Israel will be at peace(c) Israel will be in its latter days(d) Israel's enemy will be far northb) The chariots (v. 40c) c) The conquest (vv. 40d-43) (1) Of north and south (v. 40d) (2) Of the Arab states (v. 41) (3) Of the Africans (vv. 42-43) d) The cataclysm (v. 44) e) The climax (v. 45a) f) The condemnation (v. 45b) Conclusion
Introduction
Daniel 11 describes God's chastening of His people Israel. Because of their sinfulness Israel was taken captive into Babylon for seventy years. God sent an angel to show Daniel that that chastening will continue through the reign of the Antichrist to the return of the Messiah. Daniel 11:1-35 details the oppression of the land and people of Israel during the Persian and Greek eras. God desires the spiritual purification of His people (Dan. 11:35). He uses suffering to accomplish that. The apostle Peter told his readers that the Lord would perfect them after they had "suffered awhile" (1 Pet. 5:10). James said that the testing of our faith produces patience, which perfects us (James 1:3-4).
Review
I. AHASUERUS (v. 2) II. ALEXANDER (vv. 3-8) III. ANTIOCHUS THE GREAT (vv. 9-20) IV. ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES (vv. 21-35)
Lesson
V. THE ANTICHRIST (vv. 36-45) Between verses 35 and 36 of Daniel we leap across centuries of persecutors to the final persecutor of Israel: the Antichrist. He will reign over the final form of the Roman Empire and preside during the final chapter of God's chastisement of Israel. The Antichrist will be all the evil power of Ahasuerus, Alexander, Antiochus the Great, and Antiochus Epiphanes combined into one person. He will be a counterfeit Christ who will make a treaty with Israel. But in the middle of the seven-year tribulation period he will break the treaty, desecrate the Temple, forbid the practice of Judaism, blaspheme God, and precipitate the holocaust of Armageddon that will end with the return of Jesus Christ. A. The Timing of His ComingThe sharp break in the flow of history that occurs at verse 36 is introduced in verse 35: "Even to the time of the end. " Up to this point Daniel 11 deals with what to us is past history. Verse 36 on reveal events that are yet future. Some Bible commentators disagree. They believe verses 36-45 refer to Antiochus Epiphanes, not the Antichrist. Because they refuse to accept that the Bible predicts future events, they are forced to explain those verses as past history. There are several reasons to suggest that a king yet future is spoken of in Daniel 11:36-45. 1. "The time of the end""The time of the end" (v. 35, cf. v. 40) is an eschatological term that points to the last days of the present age. 2. The scope of the prophecyThe scope of the prophecy goes beyond the Persian and Greek eras. In Daniel 10:14 the messenger angel tells Daniel, "I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days. "3. The historical recordWe can substantiate the historical accuracy of the prophecy in Daniel 11 up to verse 35. After that we have no historical data to explain Daniel verses 36-45. Also, there is no indication that the events recorded in those verses were fulfilled during the life of Antiochus Epiphanes. 4. The timing of God's final judgmentDaniel 11:36 says the king "shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished. " When the term "indignation" is used in the Bible in a prophetic context, it is used almost synonymously with the tribulation period--the final outpouring of God's wrath in the last days. 5. The similarity of descriptionThe ruler described in this passage is similar to other scriptural accounts of the Antichrist. Daniel 12:1 says he will reign during "a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time. " It will be worse than any other time in the history of man. Verse 2 tells us it will be followed by the resurrection, which is at the end of the last days. 6. The prophetic contextThe previous three prophecies in the book of Daniel all speak of the Antichrist. It makes sense that the final prophecy in Daniel would follow the same pattern. B. The Circumstances at His Coming1. His character (vv. 36-39) "The king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished; for that which is determined shall be done. Neither shall he regard the gods of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall magnify himself above all. "This king has been called "the willful king" since he will operate "according to his [own] will. " He is identified by several descriptive titles in the Bible: the "little horn" (Dan. 7:8) , the "king of fierce countenance" (Dan. 8:23) , "the prince that shall come" (Dan. 9:26) , the "man of sin . . . the son of perdition" (2 Thess. 2:3; a Hebraism meaning he is doomed to destruction) , and "a beast" (Rev. 13:1). a) His power (v. 36a) "The king shall do according to his will. "The Antichrist will make his decisions as an absolute sovereign and with self-centered motives. Because he will be empowered by Satan he will give the world the baptism of hell. Because he will have demonic cooperation he will be able to establish an absolute world monarchy. His will have credibility because he will be able to do miraculous signs and wonders that deceive people. Under his rule the western world will become the protector of Israel against those who desire to control it--the Soviet Union, the East, the Arab nations, and a coalition of African nations. During the Antichrist's reign there will be other rulers, but he will be supreme over all. Revelation 17 mentions ten other kings who will be puppet kings under the Antichrist. Revelation 13 indicates he will be aided by a "false prophet" who will do his bidding. The kings of the south, north, and east will attempt to revolt against the Antichrist only after his sovereignty is established. But his power to make decisions will be absolute. His influence in the world will be so complete that he will cause all mankind to bear his mark to function in society (Rev. 13:16-17). b) His pride (v. 36b) "He shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god. "Antiochus Epiphanes was proud but he never magnified himself above every god. He religiously worshiped the gods of the Greeks and tried to force the Jews to do the same. But the Antichrist will be atheistic--setting himself above every god. The apostle Paul said he "opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped, so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God" (2 Thess. 2:4). While there have been many egoists in history, the one who will sit in the Temple claiming to be God will be the greatest of all. He will be the epitome of pride. Paul appropriately identified him as an opposer or adversary (2 Thess. 2:4) --a common description of Satan that directly links the Antichrist to the evil power behind him. The verb used in 2 Thessalonians 2:4 is translated "exalted above measure" in 2 Corinthians 12:7. The Antichrist will exalt himself above all that is worshiped--whether deities, shrines, images, or altars. He will initially tolerate religion, but at a given time he will destroy the false church (identified as "the great harlot" in Revelation 17:1). He will let the Jewish people worship in their Temple until the middle of the tribulation but then he will desecrate it--committing the abomination of desolation after the pattern of Antiochus Epiphanes and slaughtering so many Jewish people that two-thirds of them will die (Zech. 13:8). c) His blasphemy (v. 36c) "[He] shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods. "The Antichrist will be a blasphemer without equal. Revelation 13:5-6 says, "There was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies. . . . And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, and His tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. " His will be the mouth of hell, and he will try to change God's moral laws (Dan. 7:25). The Hebrew text of Daniel 11:36 indicates that the "marvelous" or astonishing things the Antichrist will speak will be unbelievable. In effect, that means the intensity of his blasphemy will be unparalleled in human history. Why Will God Allow the Antichrist to Reign?God will tolerate the Antichrist's atrocities because they are part of the process God is using to purify Israel. And they will last only a short period of time! Revelation 13:5 states that the Antichrist will be given power for only forty-two months (three- and-a-half years). He will exalt himself as God for the last half of the Tribulation, until God's wrath is completely poured out. His blasphemy and oppression will finally lead the nation of Israel to recognize Jesus Christ as its Messiah and turn to Him. Nothing short of the Antichrist's reign and persecution will do that. d) His perversion (v. 37a) The angel told Daniel that the Antichrist will be perverted in three ways. (1) Of tradition"Neither shall he regard the gods of his fathers. "The King James Version translates that as "the God of his fathers," but it is better translated with the plural "gods" because the singular form of the Hebrew word is used twice in the immediate context. That means the Antichrist will not respect traditional religion of his fathers. Paul said that in the last days men will be "without natural affection" (2 Tim. 3:3). Families will fall apart because people will no longer care about their family members. There will be no respect for parents, heritage, or family tradition. While people normally respect the beliefs of their ancestors, the Antichrist will not. (2) Of love"Nor the desire of women. "That's a very difficult phrase to interpret. It could mean that the Antichrist will be a homosexual because he will lack the normal capacity to love a woman. Some think it means he will lack the gentleness and graciousness characteristic of women. Others conclude it means he won't care for the Messiah, "the desire of women" being interpreted as the hope of Jewish women to give birth to the Messiah. But in context that last interpretation seems forced since many people don't have that desire and thus it would not sufficiently distinguish the Antichrist. I believe the phrase indicates that he will not have a normal affection for a wife, mother, or sister. (3) Of religion"Nor regard any god. "Most people believe in some kind of god. When getting into trouble they usually turn to a higher source of power than themselves for help. Men invent religions because they naturally believe in the supernatural. But the Antichrist will be completely irreligious. Our world seems ready for that kind of leader. Many today aren't bothered by a man in leadership who doesn't have normal family relationships, though fifty years ago no one would have considered him. Few now seem to be bothered if a man has a perverted sexual life--homosexuality is often presented merely an alternative lifestyle. Nor is belief in God thought to be important in our society. Probably most would accept an atheist in power, especially if he pretended to be religious. e) His idol (vv. 37b-39) (1) The god he will honor (vv. 37b-38a) "He shall magnify himself above all. But in his estate [lit. "in its place"] shall he honor the god of fortresses. "The Antichrist will worship "the god of fortresses" in place of the normal human affections for family, women, and God. The Hebrew word translated "fortresses" is used six other times in Daniel 11 (vv. 1, 7, 10, 19, 31, 39). In each instance it refers to a strong place or fort, and always deals with military power. Daniel 7:23 says the fourth and final form of the Roman Empire under the rule of the Antichrist "shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. " Such incredible military power means he will be able to magnify himself above all else. He will have the intimidation of nuclear weapons or whatever other weapons of mass destruction are fashionable at his time. (2) The offering he will make (vv. 38b-39) "A god whom his fathers knew not shall he honor with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain. "The text assumes that the Antichrist's forefathers would offer anything valuable to their deities--whether gold, silver, precious stones, or other desirable items. But the Antichrist will offer his precious metals and stones to acquire a war machine, "a god whom his fathers knew not. " Because war is so expensive he may seek to capture the world's wealth to buy armaments. The Antichrist will attack the strongest fortresses with his "foreign god" (war machine). Once he obtains control of the earth he will honor everyone who honors him with land, a leadership position, and limited independence. To insure political control he will obligate those he conquers to obey him. That kind of control has been seen in our time in atheistic communism--a militant philosophy of world domination. 2. His conflict (vv. 40-45) During the first three-and-a-half years of the Tribulation the Antichrist will obtain world dominion. During that time he will let the false church coexist with his atheistic government. He will also allow Israel certain freedoms while he honors his treaty of protection with them. But that will change. a) The cause (v. 40a-b) (1) Invasion from the South (v. 40a) "At the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him. "A revolution against the Antichrist will erupt. Holding a global empire together is an impossible task and even hell won't be able to do it. The empire the Antichrist obtained peacefully by solving some problems in the Middle East will begin to fall apart. "The king of the south" will bring an army out of Africa in an attempt to control the strategic Middle East. The Hebrew word describing that attack as a "push" comes from a word meaning "to push like a goat. "(2) Invasion from the North (v. 40b) "The king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind. "At the same time an army more powerful than the southern army will attack from the north. The Antichrist will be in control of the Middle East so those two attacks will be against him. "The king of the north" refers to the area now occupied by the Soviet Union or Russia, which desires control of the Middle East. Ezekiel 38-39 contains important evidence indicating a Russian army that will invade from the north:(a) Israel will be regatheredEzekiel 38:8 says, "After many days, thou shalt be visited; in the latter years thou shalt come into the land. " When the king of the north attacks, Israel will be regathered in its land (cf. v. 12). (b) Israel will be at peaceThe king of the north "shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to those who are at rest, who dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates" (v. 11). Israel will be at peace. That's precisely the nature of the first three-and-a-half years of the tribulation. The Antichrist will become the protector of Israel by making a pact with them for seven years (Dan. 9:27). The resulting peace will cause Israel to lower its defenses in misplaced reliance on the power of the Antichrist. (c) Israel will be in its latter days"In the latter days" (Ezek. 38:16) is an eschatological expression that indicates the events described in Ezekiel 38 will take place during Israel's seventieth week (the Tribulation). (d) Israel's enemy will be far northEzekiel 38:2 says, "Son of man, set thy face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal. " Meshech and Tubal are the names of ancient peoples who lived in northern Mesopotamia and the Caucasus region of modern Russia. The people of the northern king are described as "Gomer, and all its hordes; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters . . . from the north parts" (Ezek. 38:6; 39:2). The Hebrew word translated "north" in those verses refers to the far north. The only country far north of Israel is Russia. According to Ezekiel 38:5 when Russia attacks it will be joined by Persia (Iran) , Cush (Ethiopia) , and Put (Libya) --representatives of an Arab alliance that will chafe under the power of the Antichrist and the western alliance. They will unite with Russia and attack his interests in the Middle East. b) The chariots (v. 40c) "[The king of the north will attack] with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships. "The king of the north will attack with the modern counterparts of chariots, horsemen, and ships--everything they've got. But according to Ezekiel 39 God will give victory to the Antichrist. Apparently five-sixths of the Russian army will be destroyed by supernatural intervention (vv. 2-5). Thus the Antichrist will win not by his own power but because God will exercise His power. c) The conquest (vv. 40d-43) (1) Of north and south (v. 40d) "[The Antichrist] shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass through. "The Antichrist will decimate the forces of Russia and those confederated with it. Only one-sixth of the northern army will survive to retreat back to its land. This is history--though it hasn't happened yet, it will. (2) Of the Arab states (v. 41) "He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown, but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon. "After defeating the kings of the south and the north (the African army, the Russian army, and the Arab allies of Russia) , the Antichrist will enter into Israel ("the glorious land"). He may wonder how he won since Ezekiel 38-39 indicates it's divine intervention that will destroy the northern and southern armies. After entering Israel the Antichrist's forces will devastate the southern territory (v. 42). But verse 41 indicates that Edom, Moab, and Ammon (to the southeast of Israel) will escape his depredations. That's because He will be busy to the southwest with the African army. He won't be concerned about the southeast because it is of minimal strategic value, being mostly desert. The angel's revelation to Daniel concerning the future was remarkably specific. (3) Of the Africans (vv. 42-43) "He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. "The Antichrist will destroy both the Russian army and its Arab allies from the north, as well as the African army from the south. By those conquests he will become the master of the world. He will thus pass the first great test of his ability to subdue revolution. It's at this time that he will truly begin to sense his power. He will destroy the false church and begin to persecute Israel. He'll call for the whole world to worship him and abolish all other religions. He'll set himself up as God, tolerating no other authority and ruling in absolute supremacy. All the allies of Russia will be "at his steps" (v. 43; lit. , "in his train") , meaning they will follow him subserviently. d) The cataclysm (v. 44) "But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him; therefore, he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to sweep away many. "At this point in the tribulation the events described in Revelation 6-18 begin to unfold. God will pour out His wrath: the seven seals will be opened, the seven trumpets blown, and the seven bowls poured out. His wrath will engulf the earth while the Antichrist reigns as God. The one-sixth of the Russian army that God spared from destruction will regroup for a second attack on the Antichrist. The "tidings out of the east" (Dan. 11:44) are explained in Revelation 9:13-16: at the blowing of the sixth trumpet the apostle John "heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, Loose the four angels who are bound in the great River, Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, who were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand. "That passage describes an army that will come from the east of Israel. It may be a demonic host or it may be a human army, perhaps from communist China. Back in the May 22, 1965 edition of Time magazine (p. 35) it was reported that the Chinese standing militia numbers over 200 million--an army that has been ready for a long time and ironically knows little of the book of Revelation. The eastern army will move toward Israel desiring to gain control over the Middle East and throw off the rule of the Antichrist. According to Daniel 11:44 the Antichrist will triumph again in a second great battle. That's not surprising because he will have Satan and hell on his side helping him. e) The climax (v. 45a) "He [the Antichrist] shall plant the tabernacle of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain. "Mount Zion lies between the Mediterranean and Dead seas. In the Temple of Jerusalem the Antichrist will set up his base of operations and declare himself God. That will occur near the end of the tribulation. Israel will lie devastated as a result of war and persecution. Two thirds of the people of Israel will be killed (Zech. 13:8). But that is not the way history ends. f) The condemnation (v. 45b) "He shall come to his end, and none shall help him. "Just when he seems invincible the Antichrist will come to his end. When he thinks he has won the Battle of Armageddon the Lord Jesus Christ will descend with a sword from the sky and slay him (Rev. 19:11-21; 2 Thess. 2:8). The Antichrist will be no match for God's true King. Just prior to Christ's return Israel will reach its deepest point of sorrow, suffering, and humiliation. As He comes to their rescue they will look upon Him "whom they have pierced" (Zech. 12:10) , and they will be redeemed. They will already have been evangelized by the 144 thousand Jewish witnesses during the second three-and-a-half years of the tribulation (Rev. 7:4-10). At their lowest point they will finally accept the gospel they have heard.
Conclusion
There are three major lessons in the eleventh chapter of Daniel:A. God Is in ControlEvery detail of history is under God's control. Every ruler--Ahasuerus, Alexander, Antiochus the Great, Antiochus Epiphanes, the Antichrist, and anyone in between--has carried out His will. It's a comfort to know that history is His story. All is in His hand and there's no need to worry about the future. B. God Is Purging His PeopleGod continues to purge Israel. That purging will end in an incredible day of testing for Israel. In Luke 21:28 the Lord warned, "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth near. "C. God Will Triumph over EvilThe world's godless system will end in a holocaust and Christ will triumph over it. For those who know and love the Lord Jesus Christ that will inaugurate a blissful future that will last forever! I hope you know Him.
Thanks to all of you that have prayed and sent cards for my back. I had an MRI this morning and awaiting results.
From Last week (from John MacArthur):
The Future of IsraelThe Reign of Rebellion--Part 1byJohn MacArthurAll Rights Reserved(A copy of this message on cassette tape may be obtained by calling 1-800-55-GRACE) Daniel 11:1-35 Tape GC 27-28
Outline
Introduction
A. The Chastening of Israel
B. The Protection of Israel
Lesson
I. Ahasuerus (v. 2)
II. Alexander the Great (vv. 3-8)
A. The Extent of His Dominion
B. The Division of His Empire
C. The Resulting Conflict
III. Antiochus the Great (vv. 9-20)
A. Revenge from the North (vv. 9-10)
B. Retaliation from the South (vv. 11-12)
C. The Return of the North (vv. 13-20)
1. The Attack (vv. 13-15)
2. The Aftermath (vv. 16-20)
IV. Antiochus Epiphanes (vv. 21-35)
A. His Accession (vv. 21-24)
B. His Aggression (vv. 25-35)
1. The first attack (vv. 25-28)
2. The second attack (vv. 29-35)
a) Against Egypt (vv. 29-30)
b) Against Israel (vv. 31-35)
(1) Israel's desolation
(2) Israel's defense
Conclusion
Introduction
We live in a rebellious age. Daniel 11 chronicles an age of defiance towards God--a defiance that will last through our own time to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A. The Chastening of Israel
Within the larger context of the world's rebellion against God we read of Israel's rebellion against Him. The Old Testament affirms that Israel is God's chosen nation. Yet it also chronicles its disobedience to Him through idolatry and immorality. It defied God, spurning His grace and lovingkindness. As a result God has chastened Israel.
The chastening of Israel sets the context for Daniel 11. The prophet Jeremiah declared Israel would be punished by spending seventy years in captivity. While in captivity the prophet Daniel realized the seventy years were nearly over and expected the Jewish people to return to their land, Jerusalem to be restored, and the Temple rebuilt. But when permitted to return, only a small fragment of the people made the trip to the Promised Land. Jerusalem remained in disrepair and the Temple in ruins. Instead of responding to God's chastening, they remained entrenched in the pagan lifestyle of Babylon. The seventy-year exile in Babylon was obviously only the beginning of Israel's chastening.
Daniel was discouraged by what he saw and turned to God in prayer. He wanted to know why things hadn't turned out the way he expected. After mourning with fasting and prayer for three weeks, Daniel received the prophecy contained in Daniel 11-12. He was told that the chastening of Israel would continue until when the nation was completely restored. At that time the Messiah will establish His kingdom on earth.
B. The Protection of Israel
Daniel 11:1 says, "I [the messenger angel], in the first year of Darius, the Mede, even I, stood to confirm and to strengthen [the archangel Michael]. " Michael had helped out that angel about three years previously (Dan. 10:1) when the decree allowing the Jewish people to return to their land was issued. Apparently the demon named "the prince of Persia" (Dan. 10:13) was trying to prevent that return, and that's why Michael needed assistance. That gives us insight into how the holy angels enforce God's will in the midst of demonic activity.
The messenger angel brought a revelation of God's future plans for His people. Though Daniel was told that his people would continue to suffer through the tribulation until the establishment of the millennial kingdom (Dan. 12:2) , it was a comfort for him to know that his people would be under the protection of God's holy angels throughout that period.
Daniel in the Critic's Den
Though the prophecy in Daniel 11 deals with the rise and fall of Gentile world powers, it's primarily concerned with the suffering and fate of Israel. The minute details of the prophecy have already been fulfilled in history with an accuracy that has attracted the attacks of literary critics. It so precisely predicted future events involving the Persian and Greek Empires that critics assume Daniel must have been written written after the events took place. That's based on the premise that God didn't write the Bible and they must thus conclude that the author of the book of Daniel was a liar, since he claimed to receive knowledge of future events from God prior to their actually happening. They are left with a God who doesn't know the future and a prophet of impeccable character (Ezek. 14:14, 20) who in fact behaved dishonorably. But there are many linguistic and historical reasons to authenticate the book of Daniel as prophecy. (For further information see Josh McDowell's Daniel in the Critic's Den, available from Josh McDowell Ministries, P. O. Box 1000, Dallas, Texas 75221; 1-800-222-JOSH). Daniel wasn't a liar and our God is able to tell us about the future as easily as if it were the past.
Lesson
I. AHASUERUS (v. 2)
"There shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all, and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece. "
The angel told Daniel that three Persian kings would precede a fourth, who would be stronger and richer than the others. He would attack Greece. Historically that's exactly what happened: though there were more than four Persian kings in the history of Persia, from the time of Daniel there were four, the last of whom mounted a massive assault on Greece.
The first was named Cambyses, the son of Cyrus, who was king at the time Daniel's prophecy was given (ca. 537 B. C. ; cf. Dan. 10:1). The second was a man named pseudo-Smerdis who looked so much like Cambyses that he was able to usurp the throne by deception. The third king was Darius Hystaspes, who launched a minor unsuccessful attack on Greece. The fourth was King Ahasuerus, also known as Xerxes I. He is the Persian king spoken of in the book of Esther. He had fabulous wealth and commanded one of the largest military forces ever assembled in the ancient world. With his huge army and navy he attacked Greece, but was soundly defeated by the Greeks on both land and sea. The Greeks never forgot that attack, and 150 years later took revenge on the Persians through Alexander the Great.
II. ALEXANDER THE GREAT (vv. 3-8)
"A mighty king shall stand up, that shall rule with great dominion, and do according to his will. And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven, and not to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled; for his kingdom shall be plucked up, even for others beside those. And the king of the south shall be strong, and one of his princes; and he shall be strong above him, and have dominion; his dominion shall be a great dominion. And in the end of years they shall join themselves together; for the king's daughter of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement. But she shall not retain the power of the arm, neither shall he stand, nor his arm; but she shall be given up, and they that brought her, and he that begot her, and he that strengthened her in these times. But out of a branch of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, who shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them, and shall prevail; and shall also carry captives into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and of gold; and he shall continue more years than the king of the north. "
A. The Extent of His Dominion
The "mighty king" of verse 3 was Alexander the Great of Greece. That is affirmed by the vast majority of Bible commentators. He retaliated for the previous Persian incursions into Greece by seizing the entire Persian Empire. He conquered the western world from Greece to India, and then wept that there were no other kingdoms for him to conquer. He was a man of "great dominion" (v. 3) , and may have had a more significant impact on history than any other ruler. He was an absolute monarch with a powerful personality, great leadership ability, and a powerful army. With those assets he was able to "do according to his will" (v. 3). Israel was part of the Persian Empire at the time of Alexander's conquest, so in occupying the empire Alexander took possession of Israel.
B. The Division of His Empire
Alexander died at the age of thirty-three. No sooner did he "stand up" (v. 4) in the power of his empire than he was struck down. His empire shattered and "divided toward the four winds of heaven" (v. 4) --amongst his four generals. As Daniel 11 predicted, the empire did not go to "his posterity" (v. 4) nor remain "according to his dominion which he ruled" (v. 4).
Alexander's heirs were a mentally retarded half-brother, an illegitimate child, and a baby born after Alexander's death. They were all murdered. After a struggle for power General Cassander took Macedonia and Greece, General Lysimachus took Thrace and Asia Minor, General Seleucus took Syria (to the north of Israel) , and General Ptolomy took Egypt (to the south of Israel). The dominion of each was less than that of Alexander--just as Daniel prophesied.
C. The Resulting Conflict
Seleucus and Ptolomy produced the dynasties that Daniel 11:5-20 focuses on. The two dynasties were often at war, and since Israel was located between them, their wars were often fought in Israel or on its boarders. In those verses are recorded two centuries of conflict in which Israel was a pawn between the Ptolemaic kings in the South and the Seleucid kings to the North.
Initially, the Ptolemaic dynasty was more powerful than the Seleucid, but as time went on the northern dynasty increased in power. The two kingdoms determined to resolve increasing tension between them by an alliance. Berenice, the daughter of Ptolemy II Philadelphus (the king of the south) , married Antiochus II Theos (the grandson of Seleucus, the king of the north). That was a common method of cementing together alliances in the ancient world. Unfortunately Antiochus was already married, but he divorced his wife and went ahead with marriage to Berenice in about 250 B. C. That's exactly what the angel told Daniel would happen (Dan. 11:5-6).
The marriage did not produce any lasting peace: after the death of Ptolemy II Philadelphus, Antiochus II Theos divorced Berenice and took back his former wife, Laodice. Laodice took revenge by murdering Berenice, her son, and her attendants. She also murdered Antiochus (thus completely fulfilling verse 6). Those murders brought Laodice's son, Seleucus II Callinicus, to the throne in 246 B. C.
Berenice did not remain unavenged. The angel told Daniel, "Out . . . of her roots shall one stand up in his estate, who shall come with an army, and shall enter into the fortress of the king of the north, and shall deal against them and prevail" (v. 7). Bernice's brother Ptolemy III Euergetes, the king of Egypt at the time of Berenice's murder, brought an army against Callinicus and defeated him. As a result the angel's statement that he would "carry captive into Egypt their gods, with their princes, and with their precious vessels of silver and gold" (v. 8) came true. History records that Ptolemy returned to Egypt with hundreds of idol statues and thousands of talents in silver.
Callinicus died from a riding accident about 226 B. C. Ptolemy III reigned in Egypt for six years after that, for the angel told Daniel that he would "continue more years than the king of the north" (v. 8). The precise way in which these prophecies were fulfilled points to the accuracy of Scripture. It also points to the continued suffering of Israel as it sat in the middle of those two warring dynasties.
III. ANTIOCHUS THE GREAT (vv. 9-20)
Liberal and conservative scholars agree that the next great king was Antiochus III the Great.
A. Revenge from the North (vv. 9-10)
"The king of the south shall come into his kingdom, and shall return into his own land. But his sons shall be stirred up, and shall assemble a multitude of great forces; and one shall certainly come, and overflow, and pass through; then shall he return, and be stirred up, even to his fortress. "
Ptolemy had defeated Callinicus, the northern king, so he now controlled Israel. But Callinicus had two sons (v. 10). They raised "a multitude of great forces" (v. 10) to avenge their father's defeat--but one (Seleucus III Soter) died. The remaining son (Antiochus III the Great) became king of the north and continued the campaign against the south. He swept through Israel with a force of about 75,000 soldiers and penetrated all the way to a southern fortress.
B. Retaliation from the South (vv. 11-12)
"The king of the south shall be moved with anger, and shall come forth and fight with him, even with the king of the north; and he shall set forth a great multitude, but the multitude shall be given into his hand. And when he hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted up; and he shall cast down many ten thousands, but he shall not be strengthened by it. "
At the time of Antiochus's invasion Ptolemy IV Philopator the king of the south was. In response to the invasion Ptolemy raised an army of 70,000 infantry, 5,000 cavalry, and 73 elephants (which were used as beasts of burden and battering rams). Ptolemy was successful and the multitude from the north was "given into his hand" (v. 11). History records that Antiochus lost 10,000 infantry, 300 cavalry, and five elephants. But Ptolemy was not strengthened by his victory--in the long run he only made Antiochus angry.
C. The Return of the North (vv. 13-20)
1. The Attack (vv. 13-15)
"The king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come, after certain years, with a great army and with much riches. And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south; also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision, but they shall fall. So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a siege mound, and take the fortified cities; and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand. "
Thirteen years after his defeat by Ptolemy, Antiochus returned to fight Egypt with "a multitude greater than the former" (v. 13). His army was assisted by "the robbers of [Daniel's] people" (v. 14). The Hebrew word translated "robbers" literally means "sons of breaking. " It refers to violent men among the Jewish people who broke the covenant law of God--apostates. They were revolutionaries who joined the cause of Antiochus as mercenaries. They apparently thought that by aiding Antiochus he would give the Jewish people their freedom. But the angel told Daniel respecting their goal, "They shall fall" (v. 14).
In 199 B. C. Antiochus's forces routed the southern army in Palestine (v. 15).
2. The Aftermath (vv. 16-20)
"He that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him; and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed. He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do; and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her, but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him. After this shall he turn his face unto the coasts, and shall take many, but a prince on his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach, he shall cause it to turn upon him. Then he shall turn his face toward the fortress of his own land, but he shall stumble and fall, and not be found. Then shall stand up in his estate a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom, but within a few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle. "
Antiochus the Great's entry into "the glorious land"--the land of Israel--did not result in freedom for Israel. Antiochus treated the Jewish mercenaries who joined him with favor and paid them well. But he took longlasting control over Palestine, contrary to their wishes.
Antiochus decided to consolidate and strengthen his power by an alliance with Egypt. He offered "the daughter of women" (a phrase probably used to express high feminine charm) to the Egyptian king in marriage as a gesture of good faith. That woman was his daughter, the lovely Cleopatra (not the one associate with Julius Caesar and Marc Antony). Antiochus intended that she act as a spy ("corrupting her"--v. 17) at the Egyptian court, but the angel told Daniel, "she shall not stand on [Antiochus's] side, neither be for him" (v. 17). Cleopatra loved her husband more than her father.
History Is His Story
The prophecy in Daniel 11 is replete with seemingly inconsequential details. Perhaps you wonder why they're in the Bible. One reason is to show us God's control of history. He determines the boundaries of nations. He knows history from the beginning to the end because history is, quite literally, "His story. "
Once Antiochus achieved control of Palestine, his desire for conquest shifted toward "the coasts" (v. 18) --the Mediterranean islands and Greece. But that was an area in which Rome had an interest, and Antiochus was defeated in battle by a Roman army in 191 B. C. As a result Antiochus was forced to return to "the fortress of his own land" (v. 19). There he was murdered when he tried to plunder a temple dedicated to Jupiter.
Antiochus the Great was succeeded by his son Seleucus IV Philopater, who became a "raiser of taxes" (v. 20). That's because he was forced to pay Rome one thousand talents annually in reparation for injuries caused by his father's battles. His short reign was ended when he was "destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle" (v. 20) : he was assassinated by his prime minister in 176 B. C. The details of Daniel's prophecy were fulfilled precisely!
IV. ANTIOCHUS EPIPHANES (vv. 21-35)
A. His Accession (vv. 21-24)
"In his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom; but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant. And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully; for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people. He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province, and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches; yea, and he shall plot against the strongholds, even for a time. "
Antiochus Epiphanes, the next northern king, was "a vile person" (v. 21). He obtained the throne by deceit and flattery in 175 B. C. He was the younger son of Antiochus the Great and had no claim to the throne. His nephew ought to have been installed as king, but was held hostage in Rome.
Antiochus devastated the Egyptians and their boy king Ptolemy VI Philometor. (The battle is described more fully in verses 25-27). He accomplished that by initially adopting a policy of friendship with Egypt while at the same time deceitfully plotting against it (v. 23). In his own territories he entered "upon the fattest places" (v. 24) , despoiling the rich and then distributing gifts to the poor--he was a self-styled Robin Hood. That gained him popular support. He also did everything possible to undermine strong communities in his kingdom so there would be no challenge to his power. He quickly put down any move against him.
B. His Aggression (vv. 25-35)
1. The first attack (vv. 25-28)
"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 plot against him. Yea, they that feed of the portion of his food shall destroy him, and his army shall overthrow, and many shall fall down slain. And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table, but it shall not prosper; for yet the end shall be at the time appointed. Then shall he return into his land with great riches, and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land. "
In 170 B. C. Antiochus's army was victorious over Ptolemy's larger Egyptian army at the battle of Pelusium. Antiochus was victorious in part because Ptolemy's counselors plotted against him (vv. 25-26). The angel told Daniel that because of the betrayal, "His army shall overflow, and many shall fall down slain" (v. 26).
Following Egypt's defeat the two kings sat down together and spoke "lies at one table" (v. 27). Their promises to each other were not intended to be fulfilled--like so many of the world's worthless treaties. The goals of the two kings remained unfulfilled because they didn't coincide with the "end" God had in mind. That end would come in God's "appointed time" in the future.
Antiochus failed to obtain complete control of Egypt because Rome intervened. Instead he turned his army north and marched through Israel. Daniel was told that Antiochus's heart "shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits" (v. 28). He pillaged the land and sacked Jerusalem, killing many Jewish people and causing terrible suffering. He then continued north "to his own land" (v. 28).
2. The second attack (vv. 29-35)
a) Against Egypt (vv. 29-30)
"At the time appointed, he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter. For the ships of Kittim shall come against him; therefore, he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant; so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with those who forsake the holy covenant. "
Many of us are familiar with movies in which, during a fight between the cowboys and Indians, a distant trumpet is heard and then the cavalry comes charging over the hill. Verse 30 gives us a similar scenario: Antiochus returned with another army to attack Egypt, but the Ptolemies had enlisted the aid of Rome. "The ships of Kittim" refers to the arrival of a Roman fleet that effectively deterred Antiochus in his attack on Egypt.
Angry and disappointed, Antiochus turned his army north. En route he vented his anger against those of "the holy covenant" (v. 30) --the faithful Jewish people. There he was supported by those Jews who had forsaken the holy covenant.
b) Against Israel (vv. 31-35)
"Forces shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate. And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries; but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. And they that understand among the people shall instruct many; yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. Now when they shall fall, they shall be helped with a little help; but many shall cling to them with flatteries. And some of them understanding shall fall, to test them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end, because it is yet for a time appointed. "
(1) Israel's desolation
In Jerusalem Antiochus placed guards around the Temple to prevent worship. On a particular Sabbath he ordered that women and children be slaughtered. He required idolatrous worship and held Greek athletic contests (in which the athletes competed while naked) in full view of the Temple. Greek culture was imposed, a statue of the Greek god Zeus erected in the Temple, a swine (a ceremonially unclean animal) sacrificed on the Temple altar, and the priests were forced to eat pork from the sacrifice. All those abominations were intended to desecrate the Jewish Temple.
Although Antiochus's actions were supported by apostate Jews, Daniel was told that "the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits" (v. 32). Those who resisted Antiochus were subjected to his persecutions--typical of the persecutions by the Antichrist described in the New Testament. Their suffering was "by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil" (v. 33).
(2) Israel's defense
In response to those persecutions arose a group of Jewish people called the Hasidians. They were upholders of the law according to the apocryphal book of 1 Maccabees (2:42). Their leader was Judas Maccabeus, who lead a revolt from 168-165 B. C. His revolt "helped with a little help" (v. 34) --but was only a temporary respite from Syrian persecution. He did take bloody revenge against those Jews who had helped Antiochus, but like many revolutions, many who identified with the Maccabean revolt joined only for personal gain.
God allowed his people to be persecuted "to test them, and to purge, and to make them white" (v. 35). He wanted His people purified from sin like metal is refined from impurities. Nothing drives people to God like suffering. A person's thoughts tend to go straight up when faced with imminent destruction.
Daniel received an astonishingly complete revelation from God concerning the future suffering of the Jewish people "even to the time of the end. " They would suffer through the Persian, Greek, and Roman Empires. And they would continue to suffer up through the time of the revived Roman Empire and its ruler, the Antichrist.
God's Persistent Love for Israel
God has ordained all of history from first to last. He has determined history's notable events and its minutest happenings. He is not finished with refining Israel, and that explains why the Jewish people continue to suffer.
God is faithful to Israel in spite of her refusal to turn to Him. Our Lord said of Israel, "Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life" (John 5:40). Jesus wept over Jerusalem, saying, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them who are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered they children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" (Matt. 23:37). Paul echoed God's words through Isaiah, "All day long have I stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and contrary people" (Rom. 10:21).
Israel's suffering is according to God's grace. Though He has every right to forget them--to write them off for their constant spiritual harlotries, disobedience, abuse of privileges, and covenant breaking--He doesn't. God will continue the purging process until "the time of the end . . . a time appointed" (Dan. 11:35).
There will come a time when "all Israel shall be saved" (Rom. 11:26). That's a great promise! All during the time of Israel's chastening the archangel Michael has watched over them, and the time will come when he will fight for them (Dan. 12:1). The Spirit of God will descend upon Israel, they'll be redeemed, and will receive their kingdom (Zech. 12:10).
Conclusion
I hope you have a heart for the Jewish people. Among them are an elect remnant who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and God calls every believer to reach out to them. An old missionary hymn puts it this way:
Shall we whose souls are lighted with wisdom from on high;
Shall we to souls benighted the lamp of life deny?
Andrew
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Notes for June 28, 2009
First off let me say thank you to all of you who prayed for the Romania trip. It was an awesome time watching the Lord work yet again in the hearts of the Romanians, our team, and many of those we met along the way. I have much to share with you later this summer when we transition out of Daniel and will provide detail on some amazing situations and help the Lord provided for us. It is apparent again that He is also working in our Sunday School this week. Suffice to say that He is a provider for us and our challenge is to go meet Him where He is working. Seeing that involves how close we are to Him through our spiritual disciplines.
This week we will be studying Daniel chapter 10. Right from the beginning it is obvious that this chapter is significant in both Daniel's clear understanding of the meaning of the vision he is given and the inspiration for the content is from the Lord. Daniel records the date and who is speaking with him throughout the chapter.
I only have 3 questions for you to answer this week (although they may take some time to ponder and then answer):
1) Why do you believe Chapter 9 preceded chapter 10 in the Bible? Think about God's purpose here.
2) What are you currently facing - large or small - that you have resisted taking the Lord in prayer?
3) Discuss this one with your spouse if at all possible --> What would be the difference in your life if you prayed with your spouse at least weekly (if not daily)?
We will focus on HOW Daniel came to the place of revelation that God gave him this Sunday. A particularly good review for those of us that struggle with understanding but wanting God's direction. Hyperfocusing through prayer and fasting are significant to this part of scripture.
We will also review the vision and the meaning.
The following is from John McCarthur's notes on Chapter 10 which I believe are both helpful and better than what I could put together.
The Future of Israel
The Vision of Glory
by
John MacArthur
All Rights Reserved
(A copy of this message on cassette tape may be obtained by calling 1-800-55-GRACE)
Daniel 10:1-21 Tape GC 27-27
Outline
Introduction
A. Daniel's Prayer
B. Daniel's Disappointment
C. Daniel's Situation
D. Daniel's Revelation
Lesson
I. The Mourning of Daniel (vv. 2-3)
A. The Time of Mourning
B. The Extent of Mourning
C. The Reason for Mourning
II. The Manifestation of Divine Glory (vv. 4-6)
A. The Place
B. The Person
1. His specific identity
a) Determined from elsewhere in Scripture
b) Determined from His clothing
2. His extensive authority
III. The Reaction to the Vision (vv. 7-9)
A. Of Those with Daniel (v. 7)
1. Compared to Job
2. Compared to Isaiah
3. Compared to Peter
4. Compared to mankind in the tribulation
B. Of Daniel Himself (vv. 8-9)
IV. The Messenger from Heaven (vv. 10-13)
A. He Revived Daniel
B. He Reassured Daniel
C. He Was Temporarily Hindered from Seeing Daniel
V. The Purpose of the Vision (vv. 14-21)
A. To Prepare Daniel to Receive Extensive Revelation (vv. 14-20a)
B. To Reassure Daniel of the Truth of Revelation (vv. 20b-21)
Conclusion
Introduction
Of the four great revelations recorded in the book of Daniel, the last stretches from Daniel 10 through 12. Chapter 10 introduces the vision, chapter 11 gives the prophecy, and chapter 12 adds an epilogue. Those chapters deal with the same time period as the prophecy of Daniel 8: from Daniel's day to the second coming of Christ. However Daniel 10-12 gives greater detail about the tribulation than any other prophecy.
A. Daniel's Prayer
Daniel 9 records that Daniel had been reading Jeremiah's prophecies and was aware he had prophesied the captivity of Judah would last seventy years. Daniel realized that those seventy years were nearly over. He therefore began to pray and fast. He confessed his sin and that of his people and asked God to fulfill His promise in allowing the Jewish people to return to their land.
God's answer to Daniel's prayer came in the form of a tremendous prophetic revelation given in the first year of Cyrus, king of the Medo-Persian Empire. In that year Cyrus issued a decree allowing the Jewish people to return home (Ezra 1:1-4). Thus Daniel's prayer was answered in the same year he prayed.
B. Daniel's Disappointment
Daniel 10 opens "in the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia" (v. 1). That's two years after Daniel received the revelation given in Daniel 9. During that time he experienced terrible discouragement: most of the Jewish people had not returned to their homeland. They were comfortable, paganized, prosperous, and enmeshed in Babylonian society. As a result few cared about the Promised Land, rebuilding Jerusalem, or restoring the Temple.
Of the hundreds of thousands of Jewish people who were in Babylon, a few did return--but only 42,600 (Ezra 2:64). Daniel's dream was that after seventy years of captivity all the Jewish captives would return. He wanted the worship of God reestablished, along with the nation itself. But because so few returned to the land, those goals weren't being accomplished.
C. Daniel's Situation
Two years prior to the vision in Daniel 10 Daniel retired from being one of the prime ministers of the Persian Empire. He had also served in that capacity under the Babylonians. He was about eighty-five years old when he left office in the first year of Cyrus. I believe Daniel didn't return to Judea because of his disappointment that so few returned to the Promised Land. I think he felt responsible to motivate the people to shake off their sinful complacency and return to their country.
D. Daniel's Revelation
Though Daniel would surely have loved to return to his homeland, his burden for his people and the crisis of his disappointment led him to do what he always did in such situations: pray. God's answer came with another revelation: "In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia, a thing was revealed unto Daniel . . . and the thing was true, but the time appointed was long; and he understood the thing, and had understanding of the vision" (Dan. 10:1).
"The time appointed was long" (KJV) is better translated "one of great conflict" (NASB). The obscurity of the wordstsavah gadol in the Hebrew text accounts for the difference. They can also be rendered "a great warfare" or "a great army" (whether of men or angels). Since Daniel 10-12 speaks of great conflict among armies--from holy angels and demons in space, to conflict between Russia and Israel on earth--the context points toward the reading of the New American Standard Bible.
Lesson
I. THE MOURNING OF DANIEL (vv. 2-3)
"In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. "
A. The Time of Mourning
Daniel began the account of his vision with the words "I, Daniel," a phrase he used five times to emphasize the testimony is his. He tells us he mourned for three weeks of days (the Hebrew text specifies that to distinguish them from the weeks of years in Daniel 9). His mourning took place in the third year of Cyrus (v. 1) and ended with an angelic visitation on the twenty-fourth day of the first month (the month of Nisan; v. 4). Since he had been mourning for three weeks, he must have started on the third of Nisan. The Passover always falls on the fourteenth of Nisan, so that means during the festive celebrations of Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread (the week following Passover) Daniel mourned, prayed, and fasted. Yet for that whole period heaven remained silent.
B. The Extent of Mourning
During his mourning Daniel "ate no pleasant bread. " The Hebrew words mean "bread" or "food of delight. " He didn't eat fancy foods, which was one way of fasting--abstinence from certain foods while eating only what was necessary to stay alive. Beyond that "neither came flesh nor wine in [his] mouth" (v. 3). That means he didn't eat normal foods either.
Daniel also refrained from using skin oils during that time. It was customary to anoint one's self with oil for protection from the sun, to keep the skin soft, and to add fragrance to the body. Those privations were a significant undertaking for an eighty-five-year-old man.
C. The Reason for Mourning
At first it may seem strange that Daniel mourned. Only two years previously Cyrus issued a decree allowing the Jewish people to return to their homeland, and 42,600 had returned. Yet as we touched on before, that was the problem: though all could return, only a small fraction did. In his selflessness Daniel longed for all his people to return to their land.
II. THE MANIFESTATION OF DIVINE GLORY (vv. 4-6)
"In the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel, then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz; his body also was like the beryl, and his face like the appearance of lightening, and his eyes like lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet in color like to polished bronze, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude. "
Daniel's attitude and spirit were of the kind God responds to.
A. The Place
"Hiddekel" is the Hebrew name for the Tigris River. It is derived from idigla, the ancient Babylonian name for the Tigris. There were two great rivers in ancient Mesopotamia: the Euphrates, on which the city of Babylon was built, and the Tigris, located sixty miles east of Babylon. We don't know why Daniel was at the Tigris--he may have been on official business or he may have gone to encourage a group of Jewish people to return to their homeland.
B. The Person
1. His specific identity
"Behold" in verse 5 expresses the amazement and shock Daniel experienced when confronted by his heavenly visitor. Some think it may have been Gabriel, Michael, or another angel of equal rank. I believe it was a preincarnate appearance of the Second Person of the Trinity--the Lord Jesus Christ (often referred to as a Christophany).
a) Determined from elsewhere in Scripture
The description of Daniel's visitor is paralleled in Revelation 1:13-15, where John describes "one like the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girded about the breasts with a golden girdle. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were like a flame of fire; and his feet like fine bronze, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice like the sound of many waters. " That description is almost identical to Daniel's (except Daniel says nothing of his visitor's hair). John's visitor identified Himself as the "Alpha and Omega" (Rev. 1:8) --the Lord Jesus Christ (vv. 17-18). John saw Christ in His post-resurrection glory, Daniel in His preincarnate glory. Jesus Christ was not created when He was born--He existed eternally.
b) Determined from His clothing
(1) His garment
Fine white linen was the garment of priests (Ex. 28:39-43) and heavenly visitors such as the angels that appeared at Jesus' tomb (Mark 16:5). It is associated with the representatives of God and seems to symbolize God's foremost attribute: His holiness.
(2) His belt
The waist of Daniel's visitor was "girded with fine gold of Uphaz" (Dan. 10:5). While we don't know what Uphaz signifies, Daniel's description indicates a belt overlaid with fine gold. As a valuable, pure, and beautiful metal gold here perhaps symbolizes the sovereignty of God.
(3) His body
The body of the preincarnate Christ "was like the beryl" (v. 6) --a transparent, flashing jewel called a chrysolite in the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament). Some think it refers to the topaz. As a flashing transparent jewel I think it symbolizes God's glory.
(4) His face
His face was "like the appearance of lightening" (v. 6). In Revelation 1:16 John described Christ's face as being like the sun. That brilliant light brings to mind His omnipotence.
(5) His eyes
The eyes of Christ were "like lamps of fire" (v. 6). Lamps search out and throw light on what they are aimed, exposing things as they really are. That pictures God's omniscience.
(6) His arms and feet
They were "in color like to polished bronze" (v. 6). Bronze, commonly used of armaments at the time, hints of the judgment and wrath of God.
(7) His voice
His voice was "like the voice of a multitude" (v. 6). Revelation 1:15 describes it as "the sound of many waters. "
Daniel saw the Almighty revealed in a vision representing of His holiness, sovereignty, glory, omnipotence, omniscience, and judgment.
2. His extensive authority
Since Christ is the Commander in Chief of the angelic army and has all authority (Matt. 28:18) , it was fitting that He appear to Daniel at this time. Daniel was about to receive a prophecy concerning angelic warfare that would stretch from his own time to the battle described in Revelation 12, in which Michael and the holy angels defeat the demonic forces.
This vision must have been a source of great hope for the aged prophet. His heart had been heavy but God Himself appeared to him.
III. THE REACTION OF THE VISION (vv. 7-9)
A. Of Those with Daniel (v. 7)
"I, Daniel, alone saw the vision; for the men that were with me saw not the vision, but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. "
When heaven invades earth it always leaves man in awe. Though those with Daniel saw no vision they knew something was happening and began to shake. They fled to hide from the presence of God because it was more than they could bear--a natural response of sinful man, as seen many times in Scripture.
1. Compared to Job
When a good man like Job saw God he was forced to declare, "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42:5-6).
2. Compared to Isaiah
Isaiah was a godly man, yet when he saw God he said, "Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts" (Isa. 6:5).
3. Compared to Peter
When Peter saw the power of Jesus displayed he responded, "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord" (Luke 5:8).
4. Compared to mankind in the tribulation
When mankind realizes the great day of God's wrath during the tribulation, they will cry out "to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb" (Rev. 6:16). The unholy are devastated in the presence of absolute holiness.
B. Of Daniel Himself (vv. 8-9)
"I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me; for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. Yet heard I the voice of his words; and when I heard the voice of his words, then was I in a deep sleep on my face, and my face toward the ground. "
Daniel was left alone and experienced severe distress--he too wasn't able to handle much of God's presence. That his "comeliness was turned . . . into corruption" (v. 8) means he lost his strength and acquired the death-like pallor of one in absolute panic.
On top of that he "heard the voice of [God's] words" (v. 9). That caused him to faint. He was shattered by the muffled roar of the voice of God's Son--completely mastered by the awe of His presence. Christ then departed and Daniel saw Him no more.
IV. THE MESSENGER FROM HEAVEN (vv. 10-13)
"Behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words I speak to thee, and stand upright; for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. He said unto me, Fear not, Daniel; for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days; but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. "
A. He Revived Daniel
Almost immediately an angel in the form of a man helped Daniel, who was eighty-five years old and weakened by fasting. The angel enabled him to rise shakily to his hands and knees.
Are You Awed in the Presence of God?
Daniel's reaction to the presence of God ought to cause us to examine our own attitude towards His presence. Are we awed in His presence? I find myself rushing in and out of God's presence with no thought for His majesty. When I come to worship Him, too often it seems when I ought to be drained of strength because of overwhelming thoughts of God, my thoughts are instead focused on the world or some project completely unrelated to God. How about you?
B. He Reassured Daniel
God doesn't make personal appearances to everyone. But Daniel was "greatly beloved. " He was a special man, like others named in the Bible: David was called "a man after [God's] own heart" (1 Sam. 13:14) , Abraham was called God's friend (Isa. 41:8) , the apostle John was "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (John 21:7) , and Mary was "highly favored" by God (Luke 1:28). Those who especially delight in God and obey Him become greatly beloved by Him. The angel may have told Daniel he was beloved by God to relieve his fear--he wasn't going to be judged but blessed.
C. He Was Temporarily Hindered from Seeing Daniel
Daniel had set his heart on understanding why his people had not returned to the land so he fasted and prayed for a lengthy period of time (vv. 2-3). God's messenger first reassured Daniel not to fear. He wasn't to think God didn't care about his prayers because of the twenty-one days it took to send an answer. In reality, from the first day Daniel mourned he was heard, but delivery of God's answer was delayed.
The angel explained that he--a holy angel from God's presence--had been detained by the "prince of the kingdom of Persia" (v. 13). The ruling kingdom at that time was Persia, but the prince spoken of here was not a man: he was a demon. His position was to influence the events in Persia so God's plans for the future of Israel would be hindered. Therefore he must have been evil. He must have been an angelic being to be able to fight the archangel Michael (v. 13) , and his relationship with Persia was of an ongoing nature since the angel speaking to Daniel would be fighting him again (v. 20).
The Demons and World Power
Satan has a sophisticated world organization: an unseen network of demons influencing the events of human history. Just as there was a demon assigned to Persia (v. 13) , there was another assigned to Greece (v. 20). Psalm 96:5 says, "All the gods of the nations are idols," and demons are behind the false gods people worship (1 Cor. 10:20). Throughout world history demons have been active behind the scenes in an attempt to thwart God's plans.
God sent Michael--a super-angel--to release His messenger from conflict. Michael is mentioned three times in Daniel (Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1) and two times in the New Testament (Jude 9; Rev. 12:7). He is called "the archangel" (Jude 9) which means "first angel. " The name Michael means "one who is of God. " In Revelation 12:7 he appears with a host of angels during the Great Tribulation to destroy all demonic forces and win the final battle.
After his struggle with the prince of Persia Daniel's angelic messenger remained "with the kings of Persia" (Dan. 10:13). He remained as an influence for God with the kings of Persia. That indicates God has assigned holy angels to nations to carry out His purposes. In this continual warfare I often wonder what's happening behind the scenes in our own nation.
VI. THE PURPOSE OF THE VISION (vv. 14-21)
A. To Prepare Daniel to Receive Extensive Revelation (vv. 14-20a)
"I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days; for yet the vision is for many days. And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb. And, behold, one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth, and spoke, and said unto him who stood before me, O my Lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength. For how can the servant of this, my lord, talk with this, my lord? For as for me, straightway there remained no strength in me, neither is there breath left in me. Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, and said, O man greatly beloved, fear not. Peace be unto thee; be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me. Then said he, Knowest thou why I come unto thee?"
According to Daniel 10:14 the angel came to give Daniel a vision that would cover a lengthy time span. Specifically, it goes from the time of Daniel to the reign of the Antichrist in the tribulation. That caused Daniel to lose his strength and voice and fall to the ground for a second time (Dan. 10:15). Such was the effect of so grand a revelation.
In response to Daniel's physical collapse another angel appeared and touched Daniel's lips, which enabled him to speak (v. 16). Daniel told his angelic messenger that he didn't think he would be able to receive a revelation in his weakened condition (v. 17) , so another angel came and miraculously strengthened him (v. 18). Daniel then willingly received the revelation (v. 19).
Daniel needed to be strengthened--he had stood before the living God. He may have been the most godly man living at that time, but was devastated when personally confronted by God. We can expect even worse when we face God unless we are protected by the blood of Jesus Christ through faith in Him.
Once Daniel had been strengthened the angelic messenger asked, "Knowest thou why I come unto thee?" (v. 20) --a question that implies Daniel didn't realize the extent of revelation he was to receive. Daniel had spent twenty-one days asking about the immediate future of his people, but was going to receive a revelation of their future to the end of the age!
Plumb the Depths!
Daniel prayed for an answer to an immediate dilemma but was given an answer that went far beyond his current focus. He was shown that demons and holy angels carry on warfare, and experienced the majestic presence of the uncreated Christ--the commander of the angelic hosts. Daniel's summation that the revelation was one of great conflict was accurate (Dan. 10:1, NASB).
Sometimes Christians forget the great works and eternal truths of God and focus on petty things. While God wants us to focus on His kingdom, we too often focus on the mundane (cf. Matt. 6:33). Some Christians never seriously study their Bibles. They become caught up in churchianity--which isn't Christianity at all. We need to be committed to plumbing the depths of God's Word. Then, like Daniel, we'll receive more than we ask for.
B. To Reassure Daniel of the Truth of Revelation (vv. 20b-21)
"Now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Greece shall come. But I will show thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth; and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael, your prince. "
After delivering his message to Daniel the angel was to return to fighting the prince of Persia on Israel's behalf. God uses angelic conflict to accomplish His will. And once that conflict ended the angel would begin fighting the prince of Greece--the next great world power. Yet the angel reassured Daniel that the message he was about to give was true and that though only Michael was with him, they were sufficient to handle any opposition. What a comfort! Michael must be a magnificent being, for he's the prince of God's people.
Conclusion
Daniel 10 is a rich portion of Scripture. It gives us insight into God's holiness, majesty, and glory; the preincarnate Christ; and the reality of angelic warfare. Before us are laid open the heart and life of a man without equal: Daniel, the man of prayer. We see that the core of intercessory prayer is a broken and selfless heart, and that the first response to any crisis ought to be prayer. We also see the condescension of God in willingly revealing His truth to man. We see the grace of God in taking a weak and frail man and with a touch making him speak as a prophet. That ought to give us all great comfort. God can use any of us. He is able to take our greatest weaknesses and lift us from uselessness to strength. What a glorious blessing!
Focusing on the Facts
1. What time period do Daniel 8 and Daniel 10-12 deal with (see p. 2)?
2. How was Daniel's prayer in chapter 9 answered in the same year he prayed (see p. 2)?
3. What discouraged Daniel (see p. 2)?
4. Why might Daniel not have returned to Judea (see p. 3)?
5. Why is it best to translate Daniel 10:1 as referring to a time of great conflict or warfare (see p. 3)?
6. Through what special season of celebration did Daniel mourn and fast (see pp. 3-4).
7. Where did a vision similar to the one recorded in Daniel 10:5-6 occur? Whom were they of (see p. 5)?
8. Describe the appearance of the person in Daniel's vision. What do Daniel's representations of that person's appearance seem to symbolize (see pp. 5-7)?
9. Why was it fitting that the Commander in Chief of the angelic army appear to Daniel when He did (see p. 7)?
10. What reaction did the men with Daniel have when the vision began? What was Daniel's reaction (see pp. 7-8)?
11. In what form did the angel appear who revived Daniel (see p. 9)?
12. What reassurance did the angel give Daniel (see p. 9)?
13. Who detained the holy angel that appeared to Daniel and why did he do so (see p. 10)?
14. Who came and released God's messenger from conflict (see p. 10)?
15. According to Daniel 10:14 why did the angel come to Daniel (see p. 11)?
16. What are some important insights contained in Daniel 10 (see pp. 12-13)?
Pondering the Principles
1. Do you automatically face difficulties by persistent prayer as Daniel did, or do you immediately seek human solutions based on human wisdom? Beyond praying for answers in your own trials, do you respond with prayer for others when they are in difficulty? Daniel's prayers were typified by a selfless concern for others. Take time now to pray for those you know who are in difficulty and need God's answer for what they face.
2. It's easy to become distracted by details and lose one's sense of purpose and direction. The same is true in our understanding of Scripture: when we become interested in only small portions or issues in Scripture, we won't see the panorama of God's purposes displayed by a view of the whole. Make it a point to read through the Bible at least once a year to maintain your view of the Bible's "big picture. " To assist you, find someone you can be accountable to on a daily basis to accomplish that goal.
Added to the John MacArthur "Study Guide" Collection by:
Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
Box 119
Columbus, New Jersey, USA, 08022
Websites: www.biblebb.com and www.gospelgems.com
Email: tony@biblebb.com
Online since 1986
Phil 4:4
Andrew
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