A quick study on False Teachers. 2 Peter 2:1-3

Posted on 08/30/2017 by remso

I have had an up close and personal relationship with a false teacher for some time now. As usual, the Holy Spirit prompts me to see that far too many of us have to deal with people like this.

Why would a false teacher be such a problem, especially since the influence asserted on us is minimal and annoying at best. For myself, I feel like I have wasted a portion of my day, and always have to do some quick research into the Word to debunk what I, and the others had to listen to. Others in the group ask outlandish questions, questions they would not ask if they spent anytime pursuing the Word of God.

Sadly, the false teachers waste our time with garbage instead of the Word.

Having recently started a commentary on 2Peter I would have come to this discussion eventually, but for several days now, I feel compelled to do a quick study on false teachers. It would seem we are surrounded by them.

If you do a phrase search in the NASB (my version of choice) there is only one reference to false teachers, and this is it:

2 Peter 2:1-3 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2) Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; 3) and in their greed, they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Peter has projected this into the future, but if you know your Bible, then you know that false teachers came on the scene quickly.

You may not see it, but there is a list presented here that describes the false teacher:

  • “secretly introduce destructive heresies.” Having a familiarity with someone who plays the role of false teacher, does he secretly introduce destructive heresies? First, let’s look at the word secretly.
  • Secretly is the Greek word pareisago – which means to introduce surreptitiously; privily bring in. This tells me that under the guise of organized church policy and beliefs, he is teaching or advocating outside the scope of scripture or church doctrines. The man I know told us that he was an ordained teacher in that particular religion. I knew they ordained Pastors, but teachers? The question is if they thought you were worthy of holding such a title many years ago, are you still adept enough to teach now?

    Since joining the group over two years ago I became aware of false teachings. I was asked the same question you might be asking; did you do or say anything about the teachings? Yes, on several occasions. At one point I left the group and was gone for about six months. A friend who still attended asked me to come back as I was one of the few who attempts to withstand the teacher. I assure you, I have not been called to aggressively confront deeply entrenched and admired Bible teachers; I also know my own personality and I have the propensity to be aggressive – a rather non-productive approach. Nothing changed, in fact, the teacher actually became more adamant in espousing his opinions. The problems were many, and I attempted to inform the then new Pastor that someone needed to at least monitor the group. It seems that new pastors clean house by firing dissenting staff members, and that is exactly what we saw at this church. However, our renowned teacher is not a paid staff member and apparently of no concern. Two years have come and gone, and even though there is an esteemed church member and former deacon in attendance, to keep the study on the straight and narrow way of truth, he does and says nothing to correct blatant and horrendous falsehoods.How then do we call it a secret and mutinous attempt if everyone keeps turning their backs and allowing the offender to go on teaching?

  • Destructive – Gk apōleia and means ruin or loss (physical, spiritual or eternal): – damnable (-nation), destruction, die, perdition, X perish, pernicious ways, waste.The ruin, loss, destruction, and waste come in the form of misinformed participants who are either mislead or incapable of seeking out the truth. Why should they, as the false teacher has by intimidation implied that the information he gave was true and not to be challenged.

Heresies – Gk hairesis – meaning a choice, that is, (specifically) a party or (abstractly) disunion. The Word Study Dictionary says, a form of religious worship, discipline, or opinion.

One of the main things we hear from this teacher, especially after a Biblical refute of something he has espoused, is, that’s my opinion, and that is all that matters. Oh really. In those moments he is clearly in disunion from the Word of God and the doctrines of the church. (As I side note: I often find myself annoyed by church doctrines as they tend to be the rules of man as they attempt to establish a hierarchy.)

  • “even denying the Master who bought them.” At first glance, this seems rather extreme, up to and including a denial of Jesus Christ. It’s not quite that direct and requires you looking up the “simple” words.

    Denying – Gk arneomai meaning to contradict, that is, disavow, reject, abnegate: – deny, refuse. The actions and reactions described here are a common occurrence with this individual I am describing, as he contradicts, rejects, and refuses to hear the truth. (By the way, if you were to respond correctly to anything, it should be the truth. Truth in this example is exclusively the Word of God.) It would seem that all you have to do is consider the words in question: “denying the Master who bought them.” Who brought us to this grand party? Jesus Christ, the Father God. So, in contradicting, disavowing, rejecting and refusal, you are doing just that, denying.

    DISAVOW is to deny; to disown; to deny to be true, as a fact or charge respecting one’s self; as, he was charged with embezzlement, but he disavows the fact. A man may disavow his name or signature; he may disavow a knowledge of a fact or his concern in a transaction. If I operate on the principle that God’s word is the truth, then to teach in opposition to that Word is to disavow.

  • “Many will follow their sensuality,”
    Follow – Gk exakoloutheō meaning to follow, to imitate: Such a simple word, follow, but if we all emulated the practices, lifestyle, and teachings of the false teacher, then we become his imitators, as we live our stunted lives (A huge implication here is, that few of us have the ability to read the Bible and understand it.) How pathetically sad this idea of following someone like this. Jesus is the one I am aware of who advocated people following Him, although I am sure even Paul the Apostle wrote and told others to emulate him as well. To follow all aspects of the false teacher I speak of would leave me seriously stunted, judgmental, and legalistic.

Sensuality – Gk aselgeia meaning licentiousness or wantonness.

As I try to understand I am lead to this word licentiousness, and I can’t find it in my memory banks; that is why I look things up.

LICEN’TIOUSNESS, n. Excessive indulgence of liberty; contempt of the just restraints of law, morality, and decorum. The licentiousness of authors is justly condemned; the licentiousness of the press is punishable by law.

Anyone who has sat under this brother in Christ knows that he exhibits both of these things traits, every week.

  • “and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;”
    Maligned; what a pathetically simple way of saying blasphemed. The Gk word is blasphēmeō meaning to slander, hence to speak lightly or profanely of sacred things:

    Slander is defined as A false tale or report maliciously uttered and tending to injure the reputation of another by lessening him in the esteem of his fellow citizens, by exposing him to impeachment and punishment, or by impairing his means of living; Wow, in Christianity, and among false teachers, the idea of blaspheming the Holy Spirit, and thereby committing the unpardonable sin, is tossed around with frequency. Jesus gave us the clearest and most defined example when He went after a group of Pharisees. The setting: He had just delivered a young man of a demon when the Pharisees began their verbal attacks, saying, He casts them out by the power of the Devil, the enemy. His response: Mark 3:22-30 The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.” 23) And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24) “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25) “If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26) “If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished! 27) “But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house. 28) “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29) but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”– 30) because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” Did you catch that? All this was said in response because “they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”” Typically, the word blasphemy is used as a method of control (Control, if you do your homework, is a form of witchcraft.) Just for the fun of it, let’s see what God has to say about witchcraft.

Deuteronomy 18:9-12 9) “When you enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. 10) “There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11) or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12) “For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD; and because of these detestable things the LORD your God will drive them out before you.

Let me ask you a simplistic, childlike question. What is truth? The answer to the question is, God’s Word is Truth; plain and simple. So, does God win over the opinion of any man? Without a doubt.

  • “and in their greed, they will exploit you with false words;”
    Greed is the Greek word pleonexia and means advantage, covetousness. The word greed tends to force you to look for the money, but that is far from where we need to be thinking right now. I realize this can be a problem for television evangelists and some pastors, but this is just a small town “Bible Study” leader, and he does not get paid. Because the word advantage is an alternate understanding of the Gk word pleonexia, let’s see what the definition of advantage is.

    ADV’ANTAGE, n.1. Any state, condition, or circumstance, favorable to success, prosperity, interest, or reputation. Wait a minute; this man had a reputation; and, he certainly wants to be seen as a success, and, he wants the conditions to be favorable to achieving that goal. But keep in mind that the verse says, “they will exploit you with false words.”

Allow me to give you a grand example of what we hear with consistency.

The generalized statement was made that, everyone that goes to the great white throne is sent to the hell they deserve. Is this a true statement? Absolutely not. How do I know that? Because I have read my Bible; I have a brain, and I choose to use it.

The Great White Throne judgment. Do you realize it only shows up in two locations; one of those is here:

Revelation 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12) And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14) Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15) And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

False teachers will dare to assume that no one’s name is found written in the book of life and therefore thrown into the lake of fire, but that is not conveyed in Revelation 20:11-15. It merely tells you what is to befall those He does not find listed in the books. It says that the dead, from all time apparently, are raised and brought before this throne. God then, opens the books, and there are several, and He scours those books looking for some act for which He can show mercy. Sadly, for some unfortunate few, He finds nothing, and they are sent to their permanent place of separation.

Now, I said there were two places we find this throne. The second is in Matthew 25. The NASB entitles this section, “The Final Judgment.” Wow, that should have a familiar ring to it, especially since I just gave you the paraphrased version of the final judgment.

Matthew 25:31-46 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32) “All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33) and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. 34) “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35) ‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36) naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37) “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38) ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39) ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40) “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ 41) “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42) for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43) I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ 44) “Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ 45) “Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46) “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

So how is this similar to what we saw in Revelation 20?

  • Matthew 25 states,“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.”
  • Revelation 20 tells us, “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it,”

There is only one Him, and His name is Jesus. This is relatively easy to ascertain if you keep in mind that the Revelation is a revelation of Jesus Christ. So when we see God in the Revelation we are seeing Jesus.

  • In Matthew 25:32 “All the nations will be gathered before Him.”

Here they are not specifically designated as dead or formerly dead folk. I think this throws many off as they cannot extrapolate. Why should this concept of the dead be a problem anyway; especially since we are all eternal in our spirits – that thing made after the image of God.

  • In Revelation 20 we see this: “I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, .. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them.

These dead came from everywhere imaginable; the sea, and death and Hades gave up the dead which was in them. One of the problems people have when trying to make this comparison is the idea that only live people are brought to the throne in Matthew 25. Is it a critical error if God’s word fails to give you what you think is a scathing omission? Dead or alive, we are all alive eternally in our spirits; we were, by the way, made in the image of God and He is a spirit. So, in the long run, no one is really dead in the sense of answering for our transgression, are we.

Here is an excellent question and worthy of some thought, especially since it helps our understanding. Since this is the end of time who are the people, we are dealing with as we try to understand those before the throne?

Since the church age, there have only been three people groups. (Note: God does not care where you are from or what color you are. They are:)

  • The Jews/Israel;
  • The Church – the church is the living breathing organism made up of us, and we, are in Christ.
  • And, the nations – those outside of a relationship with Jesus Christ,

A piece of information you theoretically should know, unless of course your time was squandered by a false teacher who made you endure some derisory teaching about backsliding for two months, is that by this time the church will have been caught up to heaven, leaving those Jews that were not part of the church to endure the wrath that is coming. Sadly many who sit in churches will miss out on this catching away and have to endure the wrath as well. Those outside of the first two groups; and remain, are primarily called the nations. The nations are a diverse group that can include religious people, cannibals, brutal bullies, the poor, and the rich.

In terms of timing, the millennial reign has come to an end. Satan is released long enough to deceive the nations – once again, and they surround the 1500 square mile City of God along with its people, thinking that they can kill God. God sends a fire and destroys this uncountable number. It is at this time when the Great White Throne is set up. If I focus on Matthew’s account, there is a clear separation of acceptable folks from the bad, with the bad sent off to an eternal hell. Many are shown mercy simply on the basis of some kind act. Revelation 20 is where false teachers like to focus and will advocate that all go to hell, all the while ignoring that God is scouring through these books to find a reason to show mercy. If God, who knows all and sees all, knew who would be destined to hell why then even have books. In Matthew’s account, the crowd is separated and seemingly without the aid of these books. This kind of merciless logic conveys a God that merely mocks those destined for hell since He already knows their names and whether they are in the books or not. No, God is looking for a reason to show mercy.

Related articles
Posted in Apostasy, bible study, Deception, false teaching, God's character, In Christ, The supremacy of Christ, Thoughts, Thoughts on scripture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Second Coming of Babylon. A critique of Mark Hitchcock’s book.

Posted on 08/26/2017 by remso

Some time ago I bought a book called, The Second Coming Of Babylon, by Mark Hitchcock. I bought it with the hope that he might bring some explanation, but, as with most things, I do my good intentions got set aside for almost a year. Having read the book recently, I found myself wondering why I purchased this book. Oh yeah, people that I trust have referenced Mark Hitchcock’s work as being beneficial.

The premise of the book is a Biblically based treatise on how Babylon is to be physically rebuilt and become a great economic center for the world. I did not know this when I bought the book. I personally, using scripture and logical thought, have concluded that Babylon attains all its greatness through demonic empowerment, powerful, wealthy people, a global banking system, and the foolishness of individuals who think that more government is the answer to everything.

In chapter three, “From the Cradle to the Grave,” the third paragraph states, Man’s history – from the cradle to the grave – is tied to this river valley in general … and to Babylon in particular. (The river valley referred to is, the Mesopotamia, the land between the rivers.)

The fourth paragraph of this same chapter tells us that, “History is coming full circle. The focus of world events is cycling back to where it all began.” He goes on to say, under the heading of, A River Runs Through it, that “the paradise of the Garden was destroyed by the Flood in response to the unabated wickedness of man. But after this event man again returned to the Tigris and Euphrates valley. Man returned to Babel. And he will do it again.”

Now I can’t disagree with the premise that man went back to Babel, but I can disagree with the concept that man even called this area Babel, as that name did not come until after Nimrod, the mighty warrior. Take a minute to look up Strong’s definition of mighty and you get this: ghib-bore’, ghib-bore’ Intensive from the same as H1397; powerful; by implication warrior, tyrant: – champion, chief, X excel, giant. Genesis chapter 10 is where we are introduced to Nimrod. Scripturally our evidence for the beginnings of Babel/Babylon comes from,

Genesis 10:10 KJV And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

Perhaps it is an assumption but logic says there was no Babel prior to Nimrod. What we do have is this, all this was in the land of Shinar. Hold that thought as this land of Shinar will come back to our thinking shortly.

Still, in chapter three, the title of the next section, A City and a Tower, Mark Hitchcock conveys, based upon the definitions we get of the word mighty, that Nimrod was “the first world dictator and his capital city was Babylon. In this sense, Nimrod prefigures the final great world ruler, the Antichrist, who will also locate his world commercial capital at Babylon.”

The book goes on to say, “They settled down in the land of Shinar at Babel with a three part plan:

  1. To build a city,

  2. To build a tower reaching to the heavens,

  3. To make a name for themselves (to glorify man.)”

The scriptural reference given is Genesis 11:1-9 KJV

And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. 2) And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3) And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. 4) And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5) And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men built. 6) And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. 7) Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. 8) So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. 9) Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

An analysis of the premise put forward in this section (A City and a Tower,) demonstrates much supposition and fallacy.

  • “the first world dictator”

    Based on the definition of the word mighty it is not difficult to see why Mark Hitchcock would say that Nimrod was the first world dictator. However, this is not what is taught in church. How would most of you know this?

  • “and his capital city was Babylon”

    When you look at the scriptures referenced, which Mark Hitchcock uses to base his claim, you cannot find the name Nimrod in there, but you do find the word “they” used over and over. You should not forget that “they” all spoke one language, and, at this point in time, had one mind set – evil.

    One might assume that Nimrod is certainly playing a role in this but it’s not defined in the passages used. Verse 4 tells us that “They said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.” After being scattered and having their language changed, they left off building the city and called it Babel to symbolize their fate. The process of changing languages and being scattered would have been confusing at best and discouraging. The obvious fact is that plans and dreams go right out the window when you cannot communicate. Even if Nimrod is able to force people to build his so called “capital city”, you would think that there would be a need to gain work force numbers once again. Genesis 11:1-9 does not make the author’s case as he presents it.

  • “ In this sense, Nimrod prefigures the final great world ruler, the Antichrist,”

    Based upon Mr. Hitchcock’s presumption, all we know is that Nimrod is a world dictator. In actuality, the world was still rather small at this point. What happened just a few short years prior? A massive flood that consumed every living thing. Our assumption, based on the potential exponential explosion of human births, is that there are once again an uncountable number of people upon the earth. We have nothing to tell us any differently, so let’s run with that idea. We also must assume that they live in one geographical area, that we call the world.

    How then does Nimrod equate to the final “great” world ruler, the Antichrist? Wouldn’t he have to bear some of the known attributes such as: promoting a seven-year treaty among many? Peace it seems, was never a part of Nimrod’s vocabulary.

    Many of the details about the Antichrist come from the book of Daniel.

    Daniel 9:27 KJV And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

     

    The Antichrist based on the pattern of Antiochus Epiphanes will:

    • “confirm the covenant with many for one week”

      Nimrod does nothing like this.

    • “and in the midst of the week, he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,”

      There is no temple or parallel to it, therefore this argument is null and void.

    • “and for the overspreading of abominations, he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”

      Without a temple, Nimrod cannot make it desolate. Is it possible that this could be a reference to something else? Not likely as the name Nimrod only shows up in three locations in scripture:

      Genesis 10:8,9 KJV) And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.

1 Chronicles 1:10 KJV) And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be mighty upon the earth.

One of those, however, seems to bear a huge significance as the descendants of Nimrod are laid to waste when they step within the borders of Israel.

Micah 5:6 KJV) And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he comes into our land, and when he treads within our borders.

Because of this, it is safe to say that if Nimrod comes close to any one in scriptural detail it would be Gog – the one who amasses great armies against Israel and is killed on the mountains of Israel in the last days.

The book tries to define these three points – (1)To build a city and, (2) to build a tower reaching to the heavens, (3)To make a name for themselves (to glorify man.)”

Points (1) and, (2) seem to be closely related, so let’s see if I can get anything out of this if I look strictly at the Scriptures Hitchcock is basing his presumptions on.

Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words. It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. They said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.” And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar. They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” Genesis 11:1-4 NASB)

What can I gather from this?

  • That everyone, at that time, spoke the same language.

    Well, that makes sense as we are only generations from Noah – one of eight souls that survived the flood.

  • “ It came about as they journeyed east”

    Now, I might conjecture that they only traveled east but that is not likely. The story, it seems, is only focused on one group. I can assure you that every group spoke the same language. Another assumption would be to say: That this group was the only group and they happened to go East.

    See the problem in these statements, we have no other biblical history build an argument from. One of the things you have to realize is that from Adam to the flood is well over one-thousand years. That is a long time to hold the memory of a particular garden; so to think that these people were doing just that is conjecture.

  • “ they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.”

Assuming that the size of the group (of kinfolk) is large enough, then there would be conflicts. We know from the life of Abraham that most folks were shepherds of some variety, and what happened to him? His nephew Lot’s flocks and herdsmen conflicted and they had to separate.

Moving to Shinar might have had arable land at that time. What we know of the region today does not give that impression. There is no reason to make a bigger story out of this as ample opportunity will arise.

  • “They said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.” And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar.”

    This merely demonstrates that some, at least, are willing to make a permanent home here.

  • “They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city and a tower whose top will reach into heaven,”

    As I talk about events that we see in Scripture there is a common assumption that the time frame only lasts about five minutes; that is never the case, and, it is not the case the case here. How do I know that? Because after gaining the skills to build homes they are now aware that they have the capabilities to build something larger.

    To build a tower can carry multiple implications, for a tower can imply strength. Considering the nature and character of Nimrod – a warrior tyrant, with the strong possibilities that he was a giant of a man, the demonstration of strength and power is exactly what he wanted to convey.

    The Word Study Dictionary tells us this about the tower:

    mig̱dāl: A masculine noun indicating a tower. It refers to various kinds of towers: the Tower of Babel (Gen_11:4); a watch-tower in a vineyard (Isa_5:2); a tower built into a wall (2Ch_14:7 [6]); storage structures (1Ch_27:25); central defense towers in the centers of cities (Jdg_9:51-52). In Neh_8:4, the word refers to a structure for someone to stand on in order to address a crowd.

     

    Everything about this description fits what I said about Nimrod’s motives and why.

    Look up the word tower and this is what the Word Study Dictionary gives us:

    šāmayim: A masculine noun meaning sky, heaven, abode, firmament, air, stars. Although the word is plural or dual in form, it can be translated into English as singular or plural depending on the context. The word describes everything God made besides the earth.

     

    So, although the practical aspects of Nimrod’s reasons may be valid the larger influence – the voices of those who are part of the city seem to win. This tower was a direct and aggressive action against God. And, if you notice, Nimrod’s name is not directly associated with the tower. How do I know this? Because Genesis 11:4 tells us that “they said.” To imply Nimrod played a role in this is (here I go again,) pure conjecture. [Do you know what that word conjecture means? It means speculation, possibility, or guess. Most people use the word to convey an unfounded opinion as truth.] If we do not have direct conclusive evidence, then it is purely circumstantial evidence.

Point three – “to make a name for themselves (to glorify man.)”

  • “and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”

    Again I turn to the Word Study Dictionary. It gives us: šēm: A masculine noun meaning a name, fame. It is what specifically identifies a person or anything: God’s name, “I am who I am” (Exo_3:15); or the name Yahweh, LORD, which is in small capital letters in English (Psa_5:11 [12]); a person’s name (Gen_3:20); names of animals (Gen_2:19). To make a name for oneself means to attain a renowned reputation (Gen_11:4; 2Sa_8:13); as when God made Abraham’s name great (Gen_12:2). To become famous is to have one’s name spread through the land (Eze_16:14).

    What can I gather from the explanation above?

    • That this is a direct affront to any god but their own, and apparently they were choosing to be their own god.

    • That it is a method of attaining a reputation.

      The underlying motive is pure selfishness. Isn’t that the common problem for all of us?

Hitchcock states that “The city and the tower represent the two aspects of Babylon that continue today: Political power balanced against religious rebellion and apostasy.

To say “Political power balanced against religious rebellion and apostasy,” doesn’t even make sense to me. What are you trying to convey when you say that power must be balanced against apostasy? Are you attempting to say that power will turn men’s hearts back to God? Based upon the common supposition that power is what the world constantly tries to gain, and, it is in opposition to anything that God desires for us, the statement isn’t logical or right. How can a hypothesis like this be right when we are told that everything in the world is at opposition to God. Who then, is doing the balancing? God?

I give you 1 John where we find one of the strongest arguments against the world’s system.

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:15-17 NASB)

Religious rebellion and apostasy can almost be the same thing, and political power has nothing to do with God except that Scripture tells us

“ The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turns it wherever he will.” Proverbs 21:1 KJV)

What do I gather from all this? That God is in control, of political power as well as people.

Mark Hitchcock goes to say, “The city they built represents the political unity of the city of Babylon.”

Unity, are you serious. The two things that gave them unity, much like prisoners transported on a slave ship, was the oppressive fear of death exerted by someone like Nimrod, that and the knowledge they all spoke the same language (by the way, they were all related to each other.)

Is it a coincidence that God noticed this unity and changed their language as he dispersed them around the globe. What became of their political unity when that happened?

If they ever regained some form of unity it was put to use building the “the city and the tower.”

Mark Hitchcock introduces us to John Walvoord who gives us a summary of the Babylonian “religious” system.

  • He tells us that Nimrod had a wife known as Semiramis.

    This is never told to us in scripture, therefore we must trust that there is some history of their relationship. I, personally, do not believe that God thought for a second that you would need some deep, religious thinker for you to understand this stuff. Introducing someone like Semiramis may help our understanding, or, it can cloud the issue. If there was a religious system, it was called selfishness. It does not take much thought to see that at work in every sinful action we indulge in.

  • Apparently, Semiramis had a son, who, because of his miraculous conception (whatever that means) and was therefore named Tammuz.

    Tammuz in effect was a false fulfillment of the promise of the seed of the woman given to Eve (Genesis 3:15.)

“And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.” NASB

We are told, “Various religious practices were observed in connection with the false Babylonian religion, including recognition of the mother and child as God and of creating an order of virgins who became religious prostitutes.”

Once again we have nothing from Scripture that tells us this information, we then must rely on someone else to fill in the blanks. The process of reliance tends to subject us to deception and is any thing but comfortable in my opinion. Is it possible that I can attain through logical thought and observance of what the Word of God gives me? Yes, obviously not all these details Walvoord is giving us, but enough to understand that the people involved in the building of Babylon and the tower, did so to promote someone’s selfish desires. I came to that conclusion without all the gory details about Semiramis.

Walvoord ends his summary with the most valuable statement of the entire book.

“Babylon then is the symbol of apostasy and blasphemous substitution of idol-worship for the worship of God in Christ.”

    • Apostasy – Apostasy is the abandonment or renunciation of what you know is right. Having a knowledge of God and His ways and then setting them aside is apostasy.

    • Blasphemous – A perverted and intentional misdirect, in this case, away from the truth about God.

I often add, how would I know that? Did you notice a few paragraphs ago, that I mentioned that they were all related? This fact takes them back to one man, Noah. While the information about Noah is somewhat cryptic in the Old Testament (a thorough investigation will demonstrate that Noah lineage was untouched by the influence of fallen angels having sex with humans.) The most telling information about Noah comes from the writer of the letter to the Hebrews – Jews.

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Knowing that Noah was a righteous man, one can only assume that the offering of sacrifices and the relationship one can have with the God who says His name is I AM. Sadly, we find that four generations later, no one remembers the God of their fathers. That tells us that the relationship has to be personal; that is the primary method of keeping yourself untwisted by life.

If we focus on what Walvoord tells us we find the most valid statement of what modern day Babylon represents: “Babylon then is the symbol of apostasy and blasphemous substitution of idol-worship for the worship of God in Christ.”

I recently posted an answer to a friends statement/question about whether there are female angels. The example he used was from the prophet Zechariah.

Zechariah 5:9 NASB Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and there two women were coming out with the wind in their wings; and they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heavens.

The interesting aspect of this is how it all gets tied back to Babylon and the plain of Shinar. In Zechariah 5:8 God explains that the woman in the basket is wickedness. The answer God gives should be a huge clue that we are to be looking for something spiritual, not physical as Mark Hitchcock asserts.

The Life Application Study Bible commentary has a rather large paragraph about this subject, but only one small aspect makes any sense to me and it goes like this, “The woman in a basket was carried away “to the land of Babylonia,” which had become a symbol for the center of world idolatry and wickedness.”

Zechariah 5:6 MSG I said, “What in the world is that?” He said, “This is a bushel basket on a journey. It holds the sin of everyone, everywhere.“

While I can grasp the idea that it contains the sin of everyone; our sins are completely characterized by one person – this woman referred to as “it.” However, it is not, at this moment in Scripture, directed at everyone. It is, however, expressly directed at Israel; And, we know this because it says in Zechariah 5:6, “This is their appearance in all the land.” Can the world be enticed and therefore included? Absolutely. We are all taken in by the abominations of the earth. You know that Satan offered Jesus the kingdoms of this world and their glory. Pursue this in Matthew 4. Jesus responded to Satan with, “It is written,..” Israel, being the focus and center of God’s attention, is God’s focus in the statement, “This is their appearance in all the land.”

What we may be seeing here is the representation of the Harlot, the Mother of Harlots.

Revelation 17:5-6 NASB and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” 6) And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered greatly.

Note how it describes Babylon as the mother of harlots, AND of the abominations of the earth.

Revelation 18:2 NASB And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird.

We understand that a harlot entices you to give up your virginity, your dignity, destroy your marriage, and end your relationship with important and vital people in your life, like the wife; God. Now, look at the other descriptives: Babylon, a spiritual entity, is the woman drunk with the blood of saints and witnesses of Jesus. Isn’t it clear that this harlot is a murderer? It is also the dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit.

Mark Hitchcock’s assertion that Babylon must be rebuilt and become the economic capital of the world is nonsense, especially since, according to him it has not been destroyed as yet. In your Bibles, Revelation 18 concludes with Babylon, the great city, being thrown down with violence and not be found any longer. In reality, that throwing down, physically, happened not long after perhaps Darius. Wikipedia tells us: It has been estimated that Babylon was the largest city in the world from c. 1770 to 1670 BC, and again between c. 612 and 320 BC. With some solid dates, we can associate the destruction with the Alexandrian empire.

Although I read the majority of the book I honestly could not take any more, and in doing my critique here, I have not made it out of chapter three in quoting examples. I just do not have the time nor the patience.

I believe we are in the last minutes of the Church on this earth, and that directly impacts my ability to reach people. Why is this important? Because, having been raised in church I can tell you that false and misleading teaching is going on constantly and the majority of “Christians” do not read for themselves, do not verify that the information being shoved down their throat is correct, nor do they have any grasp of where to look to validate some teaching.

Is there something misleading with Mark Hitchcock’s treatise, absolutely, for it prompts us to spend our time looking for things that divert from the truth. We have been prodded to focus on time wasting events and energies since Christ rose from the dead. How about we spend our time looking at the Word of God, and using our brains. I do not believe this book of mysteries is a mystery to the spirit filled believer.

Posted in Apostasy, bible study, Deception, End times, false teaching, Harlot of Revelation, Prophetic, Revelation, Thoughts on scripture, Zechariah | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Behold it’s coming. Ezekiel 39:7-10.

Posted on 08/19/2017 by remso

I closed the last study of Ezekiel 39 ending on verse 6. Why then bring it into this continuation of chapter 39? Because it helps to establish context.

Ezekiel 39:5-7 NASB “You will fall on the open field; for it is I who have spoken,” declares the Lord GOD. 6) “And I will send fire upon Magog and those who inhabit the coastlands in safety; they will know that I am the LORD. 7) “My holy name I will make known in the midst of My people Israel, and I will not let My holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.

Taken up from the remotest parts of the north and brought against the mountains of Israel, Gog and all those with him will come. Few of us realize we are dealing with the Scythians; fewer understand that the Scythians extended into the far eastern regions of China, Siberia, the Western European nations, and South into Egypt.

All this is done with one purpose in mind, that “the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.”

Many are confused when reading this, wondering when the event takes place. The confusion carries through to our understanding of end times events and Revelation. Since there is little to define when this war we see in Ezekiel 38,39 takes place let’s take a logical approach.

  • When the rapture takes place it seems to be synchronized with the arrival of the Antichrist.

    Why is a statement like this valid? Because we know that a man, we call the Antichrist, will make a peace treaty with many for a seven-year period. (We assume that Israel is a part of that treaty but you will find nothing that indicates the treaty will be with Israel.)

    What we see in Daniel is a definition of what Antiochus Epiphanes will do. Unfortunately, Antiochus is a precursor for the Antichrist, who will perform in the same manner.

    Daniel 9:27 NASB “And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.”

     

    We also have the Apostle Paul’s words.

    2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 NASB 3) Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4) who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God.

     

    I highlighted a select portion as the rest of the sentence applies to the man we know as the false prophet. This becomes more clear when you read it in the Complete Jewish Bible.

    2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 CJB Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For the Day will not come until after the Apostasy has come and the man who separates himself from Torah has been revealed, the one destined for doom. 4) He will oppose himself to everything that people call a god or make an object of worship; he will put himself above them all, so that he will sit in the Temple of God and proclaim that he himself is God.

     

    The words I want you to pay attention to are, “the man who separates himself from Torah.” This would imply that observance of the Torah was an integrated aspect of his life. Perhaps some information about what the Quran teaches about this Jesus may help.

The following is from Wikipedia:

“In Islam, ʿĪsā ibn Maryām (Arabic: عيسى بن مريم‎, lit. ‘Jesus, son of Mary’‎), or Jesus, is understood to be the penultimate prophet and messenger of Allah (God) and al-Masih, the Arabic term for Messiah(Christ), sent to guide the Children of Israel (banī isrā’īl in Arabic) with a new revelation: al-Injīl (Arabic for “the Gospel“)

Islam traditionally teaches the rejection of divinity, that Jesus was not God incarnate, nor the Son of God and, according to some interpretations of the Quran, the death and crucifixion is widely denied and not believed to have occurred.

A second early image of Jesus is an end-time figure, arising mostly from the Hadith. Muslim tradition constructs a narrative similar to found in Christian theology, seeing Jesus awaiting the end of time when he will descend to the earth and fight the Antichrist, championing the cause of Islam, when after doing so he will point to the primacy of Muhammad and die a natural death.

According to Islamic tradition which describes this graphically, Jesus’ descent will be in the midst of wars fought by al-Mahdi (lit. “the rightly guided one”), known in Islamic eschatology as the redeemer of Islam, against al-Masīh ad-Dajjāl (the Antichrist “false messiah“) and his followers. Jesus will descend at the point of a white arcade, east of Damascus, dressed in yellow robes—his head anointed. He will say prayer behind al-Mahdi then join him in his war against the Dajjal. Jesus, considered as a Muslim, will abide by the Islamic teachings. Eventually, Jesus will slay the Antichrist, and then everyone who is one of the People of the Book (ahl al-kitāb, referring to Jews and Christians) will believe in him. Thus, there will be one community, that of Islam

Allah’s Apostle said, “The Hour will not be established until the son of Mary (i.e. Jesus) descends amongst you as a just ruler, he will break the cross, kill the pigs, and abolish the Jizya tax. Money will be in abundance so that nobody will accept it (as charitable gifts).” — Narrated by Abu Huraira

After the death of al-Mahdi, Jesus will assume leadership. This is a time associated in Islamic narrative with universal peace and justice. Islamic texts also allude to the appearance of Ya’juj and Ma’juj (known also as Gog and Magog), ancient tribes which will disperse and cause disturbance on earth. God, in response to Jesus’ prayers, will kill them by sending a type of worm in the napes of their necks. Jesus’ rule is said to be around forty years, after which he will die. Muslims will then perform the funeral prayer for him and then bury him in the city of Medina in a grave left vacant beside Muhammad, Abu Bakr, and Umar (companions of Muhammad and the first and second Sunni caliphs (Rashidun) respectively.”

Although I am not finding it now, I have come across the clear statement that the Islamic Jesus is of the lineage of Aaron. That would make him eligible to be a priest in the temple. What a coincidence since the temple will be rebuilt and priests will be necessary to perform the sacrifices once again. If a priest separates himself from the Torah, as the CJB tells us, the deception will be great, and this is precisely what Jesus was talking about when he said, see to it that you are not deceived.

Matthew 24:4-5 NASB And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 5) “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.

Matthew 24:24 NASB “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.

The astute should understand that Jesus was talking to and about Jews. The elect then would be Jewish leadership, such as high priests, chief priests, and Pharisees.

Are we, the body of Christ, then immune to deception?

Hardly, the sad part of this is that we, the body of Christ, are neck deep in deception. We have been led to believe that the government is our friend; that the church will only tell us the truth, always; and that our brothers and sisters in Christ have our best interests in mind. The worst of is that we have come to accept a nature and character of God/Christ that is not true, and it is our church leaders and their assigned teachers that have transmitted and supported those falsehoods.

So let’s briefly talk about one of those falsehoods we believe; that God is not true to His word.

What has God ever done that would make you believe that His word is not valid? Many refer to Jonah and the message he did eventually deliver to Nineveh. Everyone seems to understand that there was no mercy included in the message; and yet, after they, on the whole, repented, God relented in His actions. The evidence we have for this was Jonah’s own statement at the end of the story where he said, I knew you would do that.

Do what? Show them mercy. Jonah, it seems, understood God’s nature and character. With that in mind, is God a liar? Not at all. In time Nineveh returned to their old ways and God did exactly what He said; they were destroyed.

Ezekiel 39:8 NASB “Behold, it is coming and it shall be done,” declares the Lord GOD. “That is the day of which I have spoken.

“That is the day of which I have spoken.”

References to, “the day,” can be found throughout the Bible. Most of those apply to the time surrounding Christ’s physical return. However, the context of Ezekiel and the fact that Israel does not appear to be destroyed at this point is in opposition to what many commentators assume. I do not believe this to be a direct connection to the time of God’s wrath and therefore the destruction of Israel.

The evidence to back up my belief lies the fact that the armies of Gog are, for the most part, preemptively destroyed on the mountains of Israel. Since most of Israel’s enemies have Jerusalem as the focus of their destruction, and, Gog, it seems, does not make it that far, we might presume that Israel sustains no damage. Remember, Israel is a country of farmers, villages, and the drive for Jews to return to the homeland – called Aliyah. So for Israel to sustains deaths in numbers exceeding thirty thousand will not be that unusual during the attack by Gog.

Is it appropriate to call this God’s wrath against Israel? Perhaps, but I do not see a direct correlation. Since everyone and everything is a tool in God’s hands, then yes, it is clear that God is showing the world that it is He that saved Israel, regardless of the numbers killed in the process.

Perhaps, but I do not see a direct correlation. Since everyone and everything is a tool in God’s hands, then yes, it is clear that God is showing the world that it is He that saved Israel, regardless of the numbers killed in the process.
The obvious factor here is that God has spoken to Ezekiel in the past about this very issue. God seems to have an emphatic emphasis regardless of whether the timing is well over 3000 years in the future.

Ezekiel 39:7 NASB “My holy name I will make known in the midst of My people Israel; and I will not let My holy name be profaned anymore. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.

“My holy name I will make known in the midst of My people Israel;”

Is it possible that Israel forgot His name?

Hardly; the verse suggests that they really don’t care. God will see to that He regains his place and importance once again. The Bible in Basic English translates it this way, “And I will make clear my holy name among my people Israel;”

“ and I will not let My holy name be profaned anymore.”

Profaned also means to be defiled or polluted. Webster’s dictionary defines profaned as: violated; treated with irreverence or abuse.

So, in conjunction with making His holy name known He will not allow anyone to treat His name with irreverence or abuse.

“And the nations will know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.”

Although we did not cover it, it has been spoken of before.

Ezekiel 36:20-21 “When they came to the nations where they went, they profaned My holy name, because it was said of them, ‘These are the people of the LORD; yet they have come out of His land.’ 21) “But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went. NASB

Suddenly there is a shift in thought from having God’s name treated with irreverence, to what becomes of the armaments of those killed on the mountains of Israel?

Oh and, there is also the commentaries that convey that all of Israel will be destroyed; if that is the case, then who are these people that come out and gather up the weapons for firewood?

Ezekiel 39:9-10 NASB “Then those who inhabit the cities of Israel will go out and make fires with the weapons and burn them, both shields and bucklers, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears, and for seven years they will make fires of them. 10) “They will not take wood from the field or gather firewood from the forests, for they will make fires with the weapons; and they will take the spoil of those who despoiled them and seize the plunder of those who plundered them,” declares the Lord GOD.

“Then those who inhabit the cities of Israel”

It is an assumption to think that these are Israelites doing the gathering. Why say that? Because at some point two-thirds of Israel is killed. So, it is possible that invaders are living in confiscated homes. I think this is a non-credible stretch to think this is anything other than Israel doing the collecting.

Why say that? Because at some point two-thirds of Israel is killed. So, it is possible that invaders are living in confiscated homes. I think this is a non-credible stretch to think this is anything other than Israel doing the collecting.

“will go out and make fires with the weapons and burn them, both shields and bucklers, bows and arrows, war clubs and spears, and for seven years they will make fires of them.”

Considering what many weapons are made of now, why would anyone burn something inside their home that probably burns toxic? However, even to this day, an AK47 is still mass produced in wood. Note, in the age of modern weapons, the mention of arrows, war clubs, and spears. Is this merely an allusion to modern weapons? Teachers like Chuck Missler allude to these weapons being nuclear in some way; the problem with that is the inherent safety issues involved. How would the average homeowner harness nuclear power for seven years?

Finally, there is the time frame, seven years.

This should be a huge clue as to when this happens. Since the Antichrist signs a treaty with many for seven years, then we should be leaning toward this war occurring just before the onset of the time of wrath.

Related articles
Posted in bible study, End times, Ezekiel, God's character, Gog, Islam, judgment, Magog, Prophetic, Rosh, Thoughts on scripture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I am against you O Gog. Ezekiel 39 verses 1 through 6

Posted on 08/13/2017 by remso

While the study will be focused on Ezekiel 39, I saw such strong similarities to Ezekiel 38 that I felt I needed to quickly probe Ezekiel 38 once again.

And the Word of Jehovah came to me, saying, Son of man, set your face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief ruler of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him. And say, So says the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the chief ruler of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. And I will turn you back, and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed most perfectly, a great assembly with buckler and shield, all of them swordsmen; Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all his bands; the house of Togarmah from the recesses of the north, and all his bands; and many peoples with you. Ezekiel 38:1-6 MKJV)

One would assume some time has passed as God is desirous of emphasizing once again, His burning passion against the embodiment of this entity called Gog, and, we can hardly miss what seems like a desire to destroy these people. At the same time, there is the need to use them. Everything is a tool for God’s purpose; fortunately for us, His purpose is good.

It seems odd, especially after doing a book study on The Shack by William Paul Young, that I could even consider saying that God wants to destroy people. This certain destruction against the armies of Gog is another of those instances where you find what looks like as an angry God, determined to wipe people off the earth. What we have to remember is that people have choices. Assume for a minute that the followers of Gog are all vicious Mongol remnants. Bred with a childhood training that teaches them to hate, while enjoying the philosophy that what’s yours is mine and what is mine belongs to me as well; it would seem that their options for a positive, loving role model are limited. Whether they are in a sense sacrificed is not our problem, and God then has the position of looking at the heart and finding the good; something that we are all capable of. Right there, I said it, good is something we are all capable of; but do we do the good? How is it that we are capable, given the tragic backgrounds many experience? Because that same tree that brought this death, in the form of separation from God, also brought the knowledge of evil. When we read about the incident, we perceive the phrase, “the knowledge of good and evil.” Is it possible that Adam did not know good? Not hardly, he was created in the image of God who made him. That means that he was the exacting image of the nature and character of that God. Now the logical path is considered the life Adam lived before his decision to do things his way, and take and eat the fruit that he just watched his woman eat. This decision, with the corresponding action, was a choice; a somewhat convoluted one, but none-the-less a choice.

As I opened, I used the word entity to describe Gog, why would I do that? If “he” is the dominant leader of a varied group of people (consider in your research the Scythians,) then as I understand this, Gog will die only to rally, once again, an uncountable number at the end of the thousand-year reign. That would give Gog a lifespan of approximately four thousand years, or he is resurrected specifically to fight, once again, against God at the end of time.

Since it is not logical to assume this “man” is resurrected, then we must be dealing with a demon/fallen angel who is embodied in some human at the moment. I am sure many of you find this concept far reaching and unusual, if so, then what do you do with information like the clues we are given, as a statue, explained by Daniel, is made from metals but defined as empires. Those same empires are in time represented by a goat; a ram; a bear; a leopard; a lion, and an eagle. This imagery is eventually combined into a seven headed beast with one body. Ten horns come out of one of the heads and then an eleventh. One of the heads (an empire) sustains what seems to the world to be a mortal wound. Do you find anything unusual about this imagery?

Ezekiel 39 – verses 1-6

“And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal; and I will turn you around, drive you on, take you up from the remotest parts of the north and bring you against the mountains of Israel. Ezekiel 39:1-2 NASB)

While prophesying against Gog is an integral aspect of Ezekiel 38, the thing that catches my attention is the words, “ set your face against Gog.” Chapter 38 gives us a rather detailed list of those involved, but what does this simple word “set” mean?

śiym – Set is a verb meaning to appoint, to bring, to call, to put, to change, to charge, to commit, to consider, to convey, to determine.

Considering how Ezekiel 39 begins, the context for Ezekiel 38:2 where it says, “set your face against Gog,” implies that Ezekiel is to consider and charge Gog. It would be foolish to think that a captive of Babylon would have the ear of a chief ruler.

What difference would it make if Gog heard, or did not hear these words?

None, whatsoever; for God is not asking them to repent, nor is he interested in their opinion. He, God, through his prophet, says, “So says the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I am against you.”

Interesting contrast. How did God approach Nineveh?

Jonah 1:2 CJB “Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and proclaim to it that their wickedness has come to my attention.”

However, Jonah did not do that; instead, he tried to escape this call upon him by taking a boat going the opposite direction. He never told the men what his mission was supposed to be; he merely told them that their troubles were because of his inaction in disobeying God’s voice. They followed Jonah’s advice and threw him into the sea. It is not until Jonah is vomited upon the shore by the fish, followed by a long journey, of which he is now one day’s journey into the rather large city, that he begins to proclaim,

Jonah 3:4 LITV And Jonah began to enter a day’s journey into the city. And he cried out and said, Yet forty days and Nineveh shall be overturned!

This message to Nineveh came with no offers of mercy should they repent, and yet, there, as we can see in verse nine, mercy, because of their actions comes.

It is possible that this thought entered the mind of their king through the Holy Spirit, as the likelihood of some interaction with the prophet Joel is not probable. Here is what the king of the Ninevehites said,

Jonah 3:9 CJB Who knows? Maybe God will change his mind, relent and turn from his fierce anger; and then we won’t perish.”

How odd. It is certainly not word for word, but the intent is understood.

Joel 2:12-14 NASB “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping and mourning; 13) And rend your heart and not your garments.” Now return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And relenting of evil. 14) Who knows whether He will not turn and relent And leave a blessing behind Him, Even a grain offering and a drink offering For the LORD your God?

King David, caught with the result of his rendezvous with Bathsheba, said,

2 Samuel 12:21-23 NASB Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” 22) He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ‘Who knows, the LORD may be gracious to me, that the child may live.’ 23) “But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

When it came to Israel’s rejection the Psalmist tells us,

Psalms 106:43-46 NASB Many times He would deliver them; They, however, were rebellious in their counsel, And so sank down in their iniquity. 44) Nevertheless, He looked upon their distress When He heard their cry; 45) And He remembered His covenant for their sake, And relented according to the greatness of His lovingkindness. 46) He also made them objects of compassion In the presence of all their captors.

Would, or could God’s hand of mercy be extended to even someone like Gog? Absolutely.

As we saw with Nineveh, mercy took some action on their part. Now, mind you, the mercy, was only temporary as the nation eventually returned to its old ways and was in time destroyed completely. Archaeology proves this out, and the remains of Nineveh were found just outside of Mosul Iraq in the form of several mounds.

The truth seems to be that this entity called Gog would have found another victim to carry out the plans ultimately designed by God. Just like we see in Ezekiel 38 where it says,

Ezekiel 38:4 CJB “I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out ..”

We find a similar description in Ezekiel 39:

Ezekiel 39:2 CJB I will turn you around, lead you on and bring you from the far reaches of the north against the mountains of Isra’el.

In talking about Gog in Ezekiel 38, we established that this person is the chief prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. Here in chapter 39, this point is still held before us.

Ezekiel 39:1 NASB “And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal;

The prophecy against Gog takes on much greater complexity when we understand the land mass that Gog has under his control. Perhaps our knowledge of how far the descendants of Noah extended will help us better understand Ezekiel 39:2 – 5. Gog is the leader of the unified group originally known as the Scythians. This group includes: The Medes, Persians, all descendants of Noah, and extended Northeast into China; South into Egypt, and West into Europe. It included the lineage of Attila the Hun. The Scythians were well known for their savagery; their skills as horsemen, and for their mounted warfare archery skills.

One thing to note, there is nothing that forces us to focus exclusively on the leaders of Russia, or Turkey, as they are all descendants of the Scythians. However, there is that one aspect that tends to hang us up, “from the remotest parts of the North.” With the understanding that the descendants of Noah – the Scythians, were far reaching into the North, then this can be just about anyone, including an Iranian.

Ezekiel 39:2-5 NASB and I will turn you around, drive you on, take you up from the remotest parts of the north and bring you against the mountains of Israel. 3) “I will strike your bow from your left hand and dash down your arrows from your right hand. 4) “You will fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you; I will give you as food to every kind of predatory bird and beast of the field. 5) “You will fall on the open field; for it is I who have spoken,” declares the Lord GOD.

Specific actions to be taken by God:

  1. “I will turn you around, drive you on, take you up from the remotest parts of the North and bring you against the mountains of Israel.”

  2. “I will strike your bow from your left hand and dash down your arrows from your right hand.”

  3. “You will fall on the mountains of Israel, you and all your troops and the peoples who are with you;”

  4. “I will give you as food to every kind of predatory bird and beast of the field.”

  5. “You will fall on the open field;”

Each one of these aspects could be examined alone, but the motivation and intent are God’s alone and this is made clear in Ezekiel 38:16.

Ezekiel 38:16 LITV And you shall come up on My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It shall be in the after days, and I will bring you against My land so that the nations may know Me, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes, Gog.

The idea of sanctification is to be set aside for God’s usage, and, has everything to do with God causing the nations to recognize Him. Note how it says, “when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.”

Other problems we struggle with: We never consider Gog as merely a tool, especially if it has pain and death involved with it. And, we never seem to see that all life is in God’s hands and it is His to use as He wishes. All those with Gog, it seems, die, but not without purpose, and in this case, they demonstrate, by their death, God’s power.

Many associate what is about to come with Psalm 83, while others try to explain that this group of nations is a separate war entirely. As I see it, we are in the last minutes before God pours out His wrath upon the earth. Sorry, but yes, He uses people like Gog to help carry out that wrath. I cannot imagine how there would be time for two extensive attacks against Israel in the next few days. Especially when one of the attacks has a massive fire storm that falls upon the coastlands as well as the mountains of Israel – taking out thousands upon thousands of combatants. With the possible exception of Psalm 83, I do not see that Bible supports an attack on Israeli by anyone other than Gog in the last moments before the judgment of God comes against the earth.

Psalms 83:2-5 NASB For behold, Your enemies make an uproar, And those who hate You have exalted themselves. 3) They make shrewd plans against Your people and conspire together against Your treasured ones. 4) They have said, “Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation, That the name of Israel be remembered no more.” 5) For they have conspired together with one mind; Against You, they make a covenant:

Psalms 83:6-8 gives us a list of the players involved: Edom; the Ishmaelites, Moab; the Hagrites; Gebal; Ammon; Amalek; Philistia; the inhabitants of Tyre, and Assyria also has joined with them – ten nations. Because the word through Ezekiel refers to the multitudes with Gog, it ‘s hard to narrow the nations down to ten. Whether this fits the bill for a new war against Israel or not seems irrelevant when we have such a definitive word against Gog.

Ezekiel 39:6 NASB “And I will send fire upon Magog and those who inhabit the coastlands in safety; and they will know that I am the LORD.

If God is talking about the area in the map (as seen above), an area that indicates the world known to the ancient Hebrews. The coastlands then could be limited to: The Caspian Sea; The Black Sea; The Persian Gulf; The Mediterranean Sea, and the Red Sea or the Persian Gulf as we now know it. All of these have ample coastlands and could easily fit the bill and would not include places like England or the United States of America. Do not get the impression that I am saying Britain and the USA will be excluded from problems; to the contrary, we will be neck deep in them. There have been far too many prophecies indicating that the US for one, will be the target of a nuclear attack, from multiple sources. England is so far into the Muslim transition that they are barely breathing as a free land.

Note how it says, “those who inhabit the coastlands in safety. If Ezekiel 38:11 is a clue as to what this means, it tends to focus on Israel alone as Israel is the land described.

Usage of the word safety can also imply an arrogance. You might see them being so bold as to say, look at us and good we have it.

Ezekiel 38:10-11 NASB ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “It will come about on that day, that thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil plan, 11) and you will say, ‘I will go up against the land of unwalled villages. I will go against those who are at rest, that live securely, all of them living without walls and having no bars or gates,

Since Israel is God’s chosen we don’t have to look far to understand who might be involved. In doing a quick mental check, there is minimal land along the coasts of the Mediterranean where I can find peace. Most nations, thanks to warfare, have little that looks like walls. Gaza, to the South, has no peace, and countries around the Persian Gulf are in a constant state of flux due to their belief systems. Nations that surround the Black Sea, or the Caspian Sea, are lesser known to me, although there is the awareness of what we call civil wars. Some of these nations have been battling with Russia for sovereignty. Most of us have seen enough of Russia’s actions to know that when they move against you, you typically lose.

The word safety is the Hebrew word beṭaḥ: A masculine noun or adjective meaning security. As a noun, it primarily means security or calm assurance. As an adjective, it means assurance or confidence. It is primarily a positive term: to dwell in safety because of God’s protection. This last aspect of the description, as stated in the Word Study Dictionary, tends to limit the protection to those that God is protecting. However, the implications of the passage lend themselves to those who are operating in conjunction with Gog. Does this mean there will be an active participation in warfare? Not necessarily, as so much of war happens in offices and banks. Do the math. The Rothschild family has financed every war, both sides, since the world has been deemed modern. With that in mind, try to imagine the ways to participate in a war and never fire a shot. If you can, then you have imagined the beast of Revelation.

Posted in bible study, End times, Ezekiel, God's character, Gog, Islam, judgment, Magog, Prophetic, Rosh, Thoughts on scripture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Daniel chapter 12, verses 3-13. Notes I used to lead Bible Study

Posted on 08/12/2017 by remso

Those who have insight will shine

I have so many thoughts running through my head on this subject. Let’s break it down in simple terms. Why do some of us get what is going on around us, while others, still espousing the same old worn out rhetoric, say, we have been looking for Christ for over 2500 years and he hasn’t come back, so stop talking about His soon return. My own pastor told me that prophetic teaching about end times are peripherals and apparently we shouldn’t waste any time on teaching about what is coming. Others, just will not get understand, they don’t want to. And yet, there are those words – “Those who have insight will shine.

What did Daniel learn?

Daniel 12:3 NASB “Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

Is God being selective about whom he allows to understand, or is it that he only accepts the wise? I don’t believe either is the case, but he certainly knew who would demonstrate the desire to understand and not call the tumult going on around us which is so definitely aligned with scripture, mere peripherals, and not worthy of our time.

The book of Daniel is considered an apocalyptic book due to the imagery; imagery that would make no sense, in some cases, for thousands of years.

There is, however, a massive clue that we should never lose sight of, and that is the fact that Daniel was meant for a Jewish understanding, as is the Revelation written by John. The major impact seen in Daniel has to do with a region heavily influenced by the Persian and Assyrian empires, and how the descendants of those people are to be the major players in the end times. Sure, there are others wishing to play a role; we see them under the guise of the beast of Babylon; but know this, their end will come. Keep in mind, that without Ishmael and the descendants of Noah, there would be no other players in this end game.

  • “Those who have insight..”

 

The phrase, those who have is the Greek word sakal and means to act wisely. “To act wisely” has many implications. 

The word insight is also the word sakal; having been declared twice, therefore implies a special emphasis or importance to the Jewish mind. Alternate words are comprehend, consider, and discern.

One might say that those who have insight and instruct will shine brightly, or, Those who are prudent or behave themselves wisely, will comprehend.

 

  • “ those who lead the many to righteousness”

The word lead can be read as: lead to righteousness. We do that through the act of appropriate teaching. Sadly, I find appropriate teaching to be rare anymore.

The prophet Micah spoke of teaching.

Micah 4:1-2 NASB And it will come about in the last days That the mountain of the house of the LORD Will be established as the chief of the mountains. It will be raised above the hills, And the peoples will stream to it. 2) Many nations will come and say, “Come and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD And to the house of the God of Jacob, That He may teach us about His ways And that we may walk in His paths.” For from Zion will go forth the law, Even the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

The KJV of Daniel 12:3 substantiates this idea of teaching,

“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”

It matters not which translation you use, the theme is the same.

The“they” we see in the KJV are the learned in the ways of God; those wise in the word; the skillful in or with the word, OR, it could merely be the obedient that will turn many to righteousness. Effectively, this will be the Jews.

  • “and they that turn many to righteousness”

The problem is that God wanted this from Israel the entire time.

The prophet Jeremiah tells us that Israel’s teachers did not listen to God and therefore Israel turned their backs on Him.

Jeremiah 23:21-22 NASB “I did not send these prophets, But they ran. I did not speak to them, But they prophesied. 22) “But if they had stood in My council, Then they would have announced My words to My people, And would have turned them back from their evil way And from the evil of their deeds.

But the day is coming when Israel will take the teaching lead God longed for.

Zechariah 8:23 AMPC+ Thus says the Lord of hosts: In those days ten men out of all languages of the nations shall take hold of the robe of him who is a Jew, saying, Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.

Common sense and scripture tell you that these are Jews who are doing the teaching.

2 Corinthians 3:16 KJV Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. (“It” referenced here is the nation of Israel.)

And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth

Isaiah 25:7-8 NASB And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples, Even the veil which is stretched over all nations. 8) He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken.

Note that these “turn many to righteousness..” This should be markedly easier as God lifts the veil off of, not only Israel but the nations as well.

What time frame are we talking about?

My immediate response was the Millennial reign, however, I have come to understand that that is incorrect. Daniel 11:33-35 NASB gives us a bit more insight when it says, “Some of those who have insight will fall, in order to refine, purge and make them pure until the end time; because it is still to come at the appointed time.

Daniel 11:33-35 parallels Daniel 12:10, but we will get into that momentarily.

Since dying during the Millennial reign for the follower of Messiah is a non-issue, why would Daniel 11:35 play a role in our thinking? It shouldn’t, therefore, this refining and purging are happening during the time of wrath, and that is exactly the purpose of the seven years.

Why is this even an issue?

Because we do not believe that God has his hand in everything, whether good or evil; it’s an issue because we can’t handle that an uncountable number continue to come to Him, and, it is an issue because shows mercy to uncountable numbers by the methods he chooses, calling all those who come His own.

Daniel 12:4 KJV But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.

Daniel is told to shut up the words, and seal the book; why?

Daniel 8:25-26 KJV And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. 26) And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days.

The words that Daniel received applied to the distant future and would make no sense until those nations arose; nations whose national emblems, in many cases, match the apocalyptic imagery Daniel saw. And, there is the introduction of a demonically driven killing machine, passing itself off as a religious ideology, unlike all others would arise in 640 AD called Islam.

As I sat in church one recent Sunday morning, I had a thought triggered by the Pastor’s excursion into the book of Colossians chapter one; the point, spelled out in the first chapter, is our hope defined in our relationship with the Father.

The angel Michael tells Daniel to go on his way for the prophecy/mystery/understanding has been sealed until the end of time. What then is, or was the end of time?

Since Daniel had previously been told that there would be seventy weeks of years until the Messiah would come as expected, and, we know that the 69th week has come and gone, could we then say, that the end has come?

What if we added Joel 2 into the mix?

The prophet Joel tells us that in the last days that God will pour out His spirit on all flesh. Since Peter, on the day of Pentecost, declared this prophecy (at least this aspect) fulfilled, and, we have had momentary glimpses of His spirit being poured out, then are we in the last days?

The Apostle Paul writing to the church in Colossae, said, in chapter 1:26, that the mystery is now revealed to His saints. I get it, there is always a context and it seems to apply to the riches of glory now made known and available to the Gentiles. But, aren’t the riches of glory the hope that we long for?

Sure, much of our hope applies to our life in and with the Father, but, doesn’t having an understanding of how we get there and what the path that leads to eternity looks like, play a role in understanding this hope? How do you hope for something you don’t understand? Good question, but that theme alone played a major role in lives of our fathers. An example:

Hebrews 11:8 NASB By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

But we have a road map to help us with our understanding, don’t we?

Unlike Daniel and all the saints who passed on before say 1948, we who are in Christ have the road-map (prophecy.)

Matthew 24:32 NASB “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near;”

This is Israel being talked about and the process began when Israel became a nation in 1948. If I apply this thinking to the book of Daniel, virtually every chapter is an aspect of that road map. The disciples had asked specific questions and one of them was, what would be the signs indicating His return. The “parable” of the fig tree was an aspect of Jesus’ answer.

Allow me to add that, we are not in the dark and as disciples ourselves, it is given to us to know. We have no excuses. You can find these references in Luke 8:10; Matthew 13:11, and Mark 4:11-12.

Daniel 12:9 KJV And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

Apparently, God did not wish for this information to be understood until the end. Considering that some of us are finally getting an understanding, then perhaps we are here.

If I could use only one clue it would be the fig tree.

Matthew 24:32-34 NASB “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; 33) so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. 34) “Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

    • many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.”

      Whether this means people will be able to move around quickly in airplanes, or it applies to those who pursue varied sources of knowledge, I am not sure.

      knowledge. An alternate reading suggests “calamities” or “wickedness” shall be increased, a reading supported by the LXX. The difference arises from the very slight difference between the Hebrew letters for “d” and “r,” daleth and resh, which are often confused, in Hebrew a change from hadda’ath to hara’oth, as discussed in the CB margin. If the alternative readings “apostatize” and “wickedness” are correct, this passage becomes strikingly similar to the New Testament prophecies of Paul (**2Th_2:3; **2Th_2:7, 1Ti_4:1, 2Ti_3:1-5), “except there come a falling away first” (2Th_2:3) and “And then shall that Wicked be revealed” (2Th_2:8). The Ultimate Cross-Reference Treasury

       

      While I am not able to see where this idea of calamities or wickedness comes from, I do see this subtlety in the Strong’s concordance.

      dah’-ath From H3045; knowledge: – cunning, [ig-] norantly, know(-ledge), [un-] awares (wittingly).

       

      The idea of an ignorant cunning or knowledge unawares is disturbing, to say the least. The prophet Amos, it seems, upholds this idea when he says, they will go, … but they will not find it (this knowledge.)

Amos 8:11-12 NASB “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD, “When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, But rather for hearing the words of the LORD. 12) “People will stagger from sea to sea And from the north even to the east; They will go to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, But they will not find it.

The annoying aspect of this is that many will say Amen to the passage, refusing to hear the negative side of its connotations, and continue to preach falsely: the character of God; fail to demonstrate His nature; refuse to show people His never ending mercy, and befuddling the truth by valuing tradition rather than the Word of God.

Daniel 12:5-6 CJB “Then I, Dani’el, looked; and I saw in front of me two others, one on this bank of the river and the other on its other bank. 6) One of them asked the man dressed in linen who was above the water of the river, “How long will these wonders last?””

  • “the man dressed in linen who was above the water of the river”

    This is the same description that we saw in Daniel 10:5.

    Daniel 10:5 AMPC+ I lifted up my eyes and looked, and behold, a man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with pure gold of Uphaz.

     

    The question asked was,

  • “How long will these wonders last?”

    Wonders is the Hebrew word pele and can also mean extraordinary things. Except for Lamentations 1:9, this term always appears in the context of God’s words or deeds. It is used of God’s actions among His people

Daniel 12:7 AMPC+ And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right and his left hand toward the heavens and swore by Him Who lives forever that it shall be for a time, times, and a half a time [or three and one-half years]; and when they have made an end of shattering and crushing the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

The short answer is three and one-half years.

What does this time period apply to? “when they have made an end of shattering and crushing the power of the holy people”

“They” are the followers of the Antichrist. The specific time involved is the last period of time 1260 into the seven years of God’s wrath.

What do “they” do? Crush and shatter the power of the holy people. (The Jews)

The Word Study Dictionary explains the word power this way, “Literally, it implies the hand of a human being and occasionally the wrist. Metaphorically, it signifies strength or power.

What is it, an all inclusive destruction, or merely a handful?

Deuteronomy 32:36 NASB “For the LORD will vindicate His people, And will have compassion on His servants When He sees that their strength is gone, And there is none remaining, bond or free.

Daniel 12:8-9 NASB As for me, I heard but could not understand; so I said, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these events?” 9) He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time.

What events would Michael be talking about, especially since the things Daniel has been shown cover a vast expanse of time?

The context has more to do with Daniel 12:6,7.

Daniel 12:6-7 NASB And one said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be until the end of these wonders?” 7) I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time; and as soon as they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these events will be completed.

Daniel asks, once again, for understanding, but the answer is disappointing, “Go your way, Daniel, for these words are concealed and sealed up until the end time.”

Daniel receives just a little more information.

Daniel 12:10 NASB “Many will be purged, purified and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; and none of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.

  • “ Many will be purged, purified and refined”

    Purged is the Hebrew bārûr: A verb signifying to purify, or select.

    I can see where those who struggle with the concept of predestination could struggle with this also. How do you know if you have been excluded from knowledge unless you try?

    Again, I need to remind you that this is applicable to the time of judgment coming upon the world.

    If that is exclusively the case, then what about what Peter wrote to the early church?

1 Peter 1:6-7 NASB In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7) so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

I will just say that the church is under a mandate to endure tribulations, which are an ongoing process of our life in Christ. I believe this happens because we are in Him, and therefore the target of the enemies attempts at the destruction of God.

Continuing on with Daniel 12:10 –

Purified – laben; a prim. root; to be white: – become white.

Revelation 3:18 NASB I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

And refined ṣārap̱: A verb meaning to refine, to test. This word describes the purifying process of a refiner, who heats metal, takes away the dross, and is left with a pure substance.

Being refined is a concept that the believer should be familiar with.

Job 7:17-18 NASB “What is man that You magnify him, And that You are concerned about him, 18) That You examine him every morning And try him every moment?

And in the Revelation we find this:

Revelation 3:10 NASB ‘Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

“ but the wicked will act wickedly..”

Wicked rāšā‛: An adjective meaning wicked, guilty, in the wrong, criminal, transgressor.

 

Will act wickedly rāša‛: A verb meaning to be in the wrong, to be guilty, to be wicked, to do wickedly, to condemn.

 

So, the wicked or guilty will continue to be guilty. Why is that?

  • Because the time of purification is still active (the reference is still within the seven-years.) That means that Satan and a sin nature are still permeating people.
  • And, people still have the right to choose how they will act.

Haven’t we come to understand that God is merciful and does not want any to perish? True enough, but God also does all these things without subverting anyone’s will, or freedom of choice.

  • “ but those who have insight will understand”

Jesus told his own disciples that “it had been granted to them to understand the parables.” I desired to understand, always have, and finally, understanding came. Does this mean I have insight? Apparently, one promotes and works with the other.

Daniel 12:11 NASB “From the time that the regular sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.

We understand that this will take place 1,290 days into the time of wrath and judgment. Since we now know that there are 1,290 days more, then those who are enduring the time of wrath still have at least 1,290 more days. A full seven years. But wait.

Daniel 12:12 NASB “How blessed is he who keeps waiting and attains to the 1,335 days!

There are an additional 45 days added on to the end of the time of wrath. We have no direct explanation of this 45 days, however there is a variable and that would be when Christ comes back, touches down on the Mount Of Olives, wages war with those who would fight against Him, and sets up the Millennial kingdom.

It seems as if God could do all these things with a breath, but apparently not in this case.

Daniel 12:13 NASB “But as for you, go your way to the end; then you will enter into rest and rise again for your allotted portion at the end of the age.”

Once again Daniel is told to go his way. Perhaps this is another way of telling him to live out his life as none of this applies to him.

While the Jewish mind has no concept of the church or it’s snatching away, Daniel is told that he will enter into rest and rise again for his allotted portion at the end of the age. This aspect is the synopsis for the hope that we long for.

When in the chronology of time does Daniel arise?

Posted in 70 weeks, angels, bible study, Daniel, End times, Hope, Islam, Nebuchadnezzar's statue, Prophetic, the fourth kingdom, Thoughts on scripture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Daniel chapter twelve, verse 2. Yes, it’s just one verse.

Posted on 08/11/2017 by remso

Verse one transported us through “a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation..”, and we now find ourselves looking into the book of life; therefore, we have to be standing before the Great White Throne.

If that is the case, then we have just jumped forward in time by one thousand years.

Daniel 12:2 NASB “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.

  • “Those who sleep in the dust of the ground.”

    Are dead, and the Psalmist tells us, “the dead know nothing.”

    Does it matter where they came from chronologically? No, but having missed the catching away of the church, you can easily place most them in the group as being from the nations.

    Having missed the catching away of the church are there other possibilities? Yes, those who assume they automatically belonged to the family of God merely because they attended somewhere, and then there are the Jews.

  • “will awake, these to everlasting life,”

    Note: they all awake to eternal possibilities.

    Considering how some have been teaching that all those brought to the throne go to eternal hell, how is it that we see some waking to everlasting life?

    The word awake is koots and carries the idea of abruptness in starting up from sleep.

    Matthew 25 gives us the answer as the good shepherd responds to their surprise and question as to why, saying, because you did simple, good things. In other words, you acted like the character and nature of God.

    They are not lying in the dirt anxiously waiting for some reward, for as far as they know they have lost out and unaware of this awakening.

  • “but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.”

    Disgrace is the Greek word kherpaw and means rebuke and reproach.

    Contempt is the Greek word deraon and means abhorrence.

    Are the assessments of disgrace and everlasting contempt, coming from God, or from those rescued, living in immortal bodies before the presence of the King?

    Think about the depravity of such logic. Those of us living in millennial reign will have long been freed from the disgusting drive and motivation that would prompt us to scream out hideous provocations at someone destined for an eternal separation from God, known as hell.

The framework for what is to happen starts here:

The question, asked by the disciples, in Matthew 24:3 opens a large window of time, not to mention questions; so much gets ignored. Whether it is to everlasting life, or disgrace ( rebuke and reproach) and everlasting contempt, where in the scheme of things does this take place? There is only one place, and it is the Great White throne.

Revelation 20:7 CJB When the thousand years are over, the Adversary will be set free from his prison

At the end of the thousand year reign is where we find Satan released one last time and given enough time to deceive the nations. (There is that word – nations, once again. It is distinct and separate from God’s people, which have just been going through the thousand year reign.)

Revelation 20:8-10 CJB and (Satan) will go out to deceive the nations in the four quarters of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them for the battle. Their number is countless as the sand on the seashore; 9) and they came up over the breadth of the Land and surrounded the camp of God’s people and the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and consumed them. 10) The Adversary who had deceived them was hurled into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet were; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

The ERV tells us that, “He will go out to trick the nations in all the earth, the nations known as Gog and Magog.”

Note: At this point in time, verse 10, we are only aware of three individuals being in the lake of fire.

Abraham was told that his offspring would be as the sands of the sea. What do we see in Revelation 20:8? Countless numbers as they stand on the seashore. That then evokes the question, who is Abraham’s offspring?

Ishmael and Issac. Since Ishmael is an offspring, then descendants of Ishmael would be among those numbers.

A brief overview of the thousand years.

During the Millennial reign, we are told that Jews are sought out by the nations as the teachers of God’s ways. We will cover this aspect in more depth when we get to verse 3, but for now, What does that imply? It means that righteousness is continually taught and enforced.

It appears that the idea of grace (the idea that God merely forgives and overlooks sin) is gone with the catching away of the church.

The time that follows the Harpazo, the catching away of the church, is the wrath and judgment of God that the world and those still in it experiences. It would seem that during this seven years you have to prove your allegiance to God through martyrdom. This idea of brutal death is not a God demand but an unfortunate aspect of the Antichrist’s rule over the earth.

Many from the nations, now having the veil lifted from their eyes have come wholeheartedly into a bond with God. This relationship appears to be primarily through the observance of God’s statutes; we evidence this standard when the nations are made to appear yearly in Jerusalem and participate in the Feast of Tabernacles – a week long ceremony where bowing before God is a mandate.

Jeremiah 3:17 NASB “At that time they will call Jerusalem ‘The Throne of the LORD,’ and all the nations will be gathered to it, to Jerusalem, for the name of the LORD; nor will they walk any more after the stubbornness of their evil heart.

Zechariah 14:16 NASB Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that went against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Booths.

While I have been pointing out how righteousness may look during the Millennial reign there is another possibility for the nations to obtain righteousness, and that would be through the healing derived from the leaves of the trees that grow along the river that flows from the throne of God; this is the same tree of life that grew in the garden. Since we understand that the tree of life gives eternal life, just as church obtained through Jesus Christ, then those who partake of the leaves from the trees obtain this life. This idea of handing out life to people probably causes many of us great trouble, as we cannot grasp God’s ability, generosity, and wisdom in allowing something like this to happen.

Trust me on this, God, will not allow any permanent resident to bring their deviance into eternity. He could not allow Adam and Eve to do it and He won’t allow it here. Since Adam and Eve operated under the same graceless pattern as Israel did, then death would have put them in Sheol, just as Abraham and the beggar Lazarus. Anyone held captive in Hell would have been given the opportunity to accept Christ’s grace and mercy when He preached to the captives in Hades as an aspect of His death and resurrection. This moment of grace was an opportunity afforded to all. Seeing as all sin was forgiven and overlooked then all that remained for those held captive in Satan’s domain, was to accept that Jesus was the Messiah and that He had paid the price necessary for eternal life.

The NASB entitles this next section:

Judgment before the Great White Throne.

Observe what happens.

Revelation 20:11-13 CJB Next I saw a great white throne and the One sitting on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. 12) And I saw the dead, both great and small, standing in front of the throne. Books were opened; and another book was opened, the Book of Life; and the dead were judged from what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13) The sea gave up the dead in it; and Death and Sh’ol gave up the dead in them; and they were judged, each according to what he had done.

Daniel was told, “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt.”

  • “And I saw the dead, both great and small, standing in front of the throne.”

There is no exclusion, as all will awake, but not all will obtain everlasting life with the Father.

  • “and death and Sheol gave up the dead in them, and they were judged,”

    As I said, Jesus preached to the captives. What the immediate impact was we do not know.

  • “Books were opened.”

    We assume that He is checking the books to see your sins, however, God does not need to write your failures in a book; why?

Because sin, all of it, was forgiven and set aside on the cross. He does, however, scour these books looking for a basis to show those before Him mercy. This idea of looking for something that allows Him to show mercy is the only logical assumption we can make.

What we see in Revelation 20 is the same story as Matthew 25, only told from a different viewpoint.

Allow me to explain.

Jesus, after a horrendous, two-day confrontation in the temple, is now leaving and headed toward the Mount of Olives – his favorite place to retreat and rejuvenate with the Father. The disciples were undone by the last two days, as they too thought He would step up as the Messiah, but He didn’t. Befuddled, they pointed out the magnificence of the temple as they walked past it. Jesus response to this was:

Matthew 24:2 CJB But he answered them, “You see all these? Yes! I tell you, they will be totally destroyed; not a single stone will be left standing!”

A few minutes have passed, and they are now sitting among the Olive trees. Here they came to Him privately and asked,

Matthew 24:3 NASB As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

They asked three questions:

    • “ Tell us, when will these things happen.”

      What things?

    • “ what will be the sign of Your coming,”

      The Jews, his disciples, had no concept of a rapture of the church. As far as they, they were the church. That attitude changed but not so quickly.

    • “And what will be the sign of the end of the age?”

Matthew 24 and 25 is the long answer to those questions. An aspect of that response includes the sheep and goat judgment.

Interesting that the NASB entitles this next cluster of passages in Matthew 25 as:

The Final Judgment

How odd, I thought that the Great White Throne was the final judgment? It is, and this is that experience, from the perspective of Jesus as the loving, gentle Shepherd. In contrast, in the book of Revelation, He appears as the angry God willing to end all rebellion on earth. It will help your understanding to remember that the Revelation is a revelation of Jesus Christ, no matter what he looks like.

Again, allow me to demonstrate.

Matthew 25:31 NASB “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.

  • “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory.”

Glory is the Greek word Doxa. An aspect of its meaning is splendor and brightness.

Do not think for a second that when He comes riding the white horse, prepared to do battle, that He will be dressed in anything other than His splendor and brightness.

When will this happen for the last time? At the Great White Throne.

Matthew 25:32 NASB “(A.)All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate (B.) them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;

If this is the same throne then these are dead people.

We know from Daniel 12:2 that, “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake,”

This is not a selective resurrection; everyone will awake.

In Revelation 20 do we see a separation as well?

Yes, as Jesus the shepherd sets apart all those whose names are not found in the books.

Let’s look at Revelation 20 once again, and see what it says.

Revelation 20:12-13 NASB 12) And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.

  • “ And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne,”

While this makes no distinction as to where the dead came from, our biggest and most logical assumption is of the nations; not only those we just witnessed coming against the city of God, but those who have died throughout the thousand years and possibly all time.

  • “and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.” Revelation 20:13

While the judgmental will send them all to hell, the truth is that God scours all books available looking for some reason to show them mercy.

Revelation 20:14-15 NASB 14) Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15) And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

The logical path.

The comparison here to Matthew’s version is that the shepherd focuses on the sheep and their entrance into the kingdom. Revelation 20 tells only us about those whose names were not found in the book of life and were thrown into the lake of fire. There is no discussion about anyone going into the kingdom, and yet both represent the final judgment. Therefore, there must be those who gain entrance, especially if Matthew 25 is the same story. And, the most disturbing for the religious is that there is the possibility that some of those standing there, deceived, ready to kill God, have potentially done some good deed worthy of life. Matthew 25 spelled those things out, for when those granted mercy realize what is happening to them, they ask what they did to deserve mercy. The answer from the shepherd, Yeshua, Jesus, is that they fed Him, visited Him in prison, and gave Him something to drink when He was thirsty. Simple, good deeds.

Posted in bible study, Daniel, End times, judgment, Prophetic, Revelation, Thoughts on scripture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“a god whom his fathers did not know” Daniel 11:34-45 , a commentary.

Posted on 08/04/2017 by remso

This is the area that has no direct correlation with History. It is also the darkest waters as most assign things like worshipping, “a god whom his fathers did not know,” to the most unusual of theories. If I consider all the influences, most of which are Assyrian, then I can begin to understand what something like the idea of worshipping a god his fathers did not know, a little less difficult. Read on and you will see what I mean.

Antiochus is resisted by the Maccabees who do exploits but are oppressed by him many days.

Daniel 11:34 NASB “Now when they fall they will be granted a little help, and many will join with them in hypocrisy.

  • “Now when they fall they will be granted a little help.”

Since we understand that the price to be paid for coming to the Lord during the last days is ultimately death, help can only be fleeting. I cannot begin to imagine what a little help will look like, but the implications are that it is momentary and temporary.

  • “and many will join with them in hypocrisy.”

Hypocrisy, as defined in the Hebrew, describes uncertain people on treacherous paths of false prophets (Jer_23:12) and hated enemies.

There two possibilities I see here.

  • Islam has the right to lie. They can and will play the role of a follower in order to gain an advantage in Jihad.

  • The other is help coming from people that really aren’t going to stick around. In either case, you will probably die.

Jeremiah 23:12 NASB “Therefore their way will be like slippery paths to them, They will be driven away into the gloom and fall down in it; For I will bring calamity upon them, The year of their punishment,” declares the LORD.

Daniel 11:35 CJB Even some of those with discernment will stumble so that some of them will be refined, purified and cleansed for an end yet to come at the designated time.

  • “Even some of those with discernment will stumble.”

    We always want the good guy to win, however, that is not always the case, and there is a reason why.

  • “so that some of them will be refined, purified and cleansed”

    What is the reason for the “great tribulation”? It is God’s final punishment of: Israel, for their rejection of Him, and it is a punishment of the world for accosting his people and their rejection of Him.

    If Israel has rejected Him all these years, is it possible that God is looking for a method of redemption, instead of a final punishment, as some believe? What if you found out that God’s character and nature were mercy and love?

 

  • for an end yet to come at the designated time.”

What is the end?
Truly, it can only be the Great White Throne judgment. This event shows up in two places; one in the Revelation and the other in Matthew 25 where we see the sheep and the goats. In Revelation Jesus is played out before us as what appears to be an angry God. We get that impression for all we see is the finality of His judgment as many are sent to the lake of fire, a place that was only designed for Satan and his mutinous crew.

 

In Matthew’s account, Jesus is the gentle shepherd and we primarily focus on the sheep and their reward. In either case, you become aware of books along with the book of life. I surmise that God scours those books looking desperately for some reason to show those standing before Him mercy.

The time of the vision.

The character of “the king” of the north (Daniel 7:25 and 8:25.)

Daniel 11:36 CJB “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt himself and consider himself greater than any god, and he will utter monstrous blasphemies against the God of gods. He will prosper only until the period of wrath is over, for what has been determined must take place.

  • “ The king will do as he pleases”

    What permits such actions? An overwhelming fear; support of loyal troops; a lack of oversight.
    So, is that typical? Perhaps not, but not impossible.

  • “He will exalt himself and consider himself greater than any god, and he will utter monstrous blasphemies against the God of gods”

    It seems that many people think this way. However, this is much more serious than the standard blasphemies we speak. The entity that does this specific thing is the Antichrist.

    2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 CJB Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For the Day will not come until after the Apostasy has come and the man who separates himself from Torah has been revealed, the one destined for doom. 4) He will oppose himself to everything that people call a god or make an object of worship; he will put himself above them all, so that he will sit in the Temple of God and proclaim that he himself is God.

  • “He will prosper only until the period of wrath is over, for what has been determined must take place.”

    Revelation 11:18 NASB “And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.”


    The determined time is his end.

Revelation 19:20 NASB And the beast was seized, and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone.

Daniel 11:37 NASB “He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor will he show regard for any other god; for he will magnify himself above them all.

  • “He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers”

Antiochus’s Seleucid predecessors had elevated the god Apollo, while the Ptolemies had shown a preference for Adonis (possibly referred to here as the one desired by women). Antiochus neglects them (though by no means rejects them) in favor of Olympian Zeus. The fact that he designated himself as God Manifest on his coins is sufficient to explain the comment in this verse. IVPBBC

  • “ or for the desire of women”

    Based on this, some Bible scholars believe that the Antichrist will be of Jewish descent, and perhaps will also be a homosexual. These things may not be popularly known about the man, but they may be true nonetheless. But many commentators believe that the desire of women refers to Jesus, in that all women desired the honor of bearing the Messiah and understanding “desire” as it is used in Hag_2:7. Seeing the desire of women as Jesus makes the most sense in light of the flow of context. David Guzik’s Enduring Word Commentary

Daniel 11:38 NASB “But instead he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know; he will honor him with gold, silver, costly stones and treasures.

  • “But instead he will honor a god of fortresses, a god whom his fathers did not know;”

    “The Antichrist will take and hold power with military might and the shrewd use of great riches.” Guzik

Certainly, Islam is and have been, the people of the sword, so violence is a way of life to them. But where are the fortresses? The fortresses seem to be more in their Mosques and run by the Caliphates.

Daniel 11:39 NASB “He will take action against the strongest of fortresses with the help of a foreign god; he will give great honor to those who acknowledge him and will cause them to rule over the many, and will parcel out land for a price.

The following is from the Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Thus shall he do in, the most strong holds – Margin, “fortresses of munitions.” The reference is to strongly fortified places; of those places which had been made strong for purposes of defense. The idea is, that he would carry on his purposes against these places, as it were, under the auspices of this strange god. It was a fact, that in his wars Antiochus came into possession of the strong places, or the fortified towns of the nations which he attacked – Jerusalem, Sidon, Peluslum, Memphis – then among the strongest places in the world.

But we are looking forward to an end time scenario and there few fortresses anymore. Oh, I am not excluding the idea that there are military bases, nor am I discounting countries, like Russia and Iran, that seem to operate as though they were fortresses unto themselves.

  • “with the help of a foreign god”

    “A foreign god whom his fathers did not acknowledge;” We have already spoken about how Antiochus IV ignored the gods of his family and brought in Zeus from the Romans. But, we are looking forward and need to look outside the box. Who or what is the god of Islam? Allah. This would certainly push this person outside the realm of his father’s gods.

  • “he will give great honor to those who acknowledge him and will cause them to rule over the many”

While in the short term, “the conquests of Antiochus would seem to be a setting up of the dominion of these gods over the lands which he subdued.” But in the long term, Islam demands submission to Allah. 

And shall divide the land for gain – “The reference here is, probably, to the holy land, and the idea is that it would be partitioned out among his followers for a price, or with a view to gain; that is, perhaps, that it would be “farmed out” for the purpose of raising revenue, and that with this view, as often occurred, it would be set up for sale to the highest bidder. This was a common way of raising revenue, by “farming out” a conquered province; that is, by disposing of the privilege of raising a revenue in it to the one who would offer most for it, and the consequence was, that it gave rise to vast rapacity in extorting funds from the people. Compare 1 Macc. 3:35, 36, where, speaking of Lysias, whom Antiochus had “set to oversee the affairs of the king from the river Euphrates unto the borders of Egypt,” it is said of Antiochus that he “gave him (Lysias) charge of all things that he would have done, as also concerning them that dwelt in Judea and Jerusalem: to wit, that he should send an army against them, to destroy and root out the strength of Israel, and the remnant of Jerusalem, and to take away their memorial from that place; and that he should place strangers in all their quarters, ‘and divide their land by lot. ‘“

The final battles of Daniel 11:40-45

There is no known historical sequence corresponding to that which is laid out in these verses. Antiochus IV was killed in battle in Persia in December 164. Many interpreters of Daniel consider this section (perhaps starting as early as v. Dan_11:36) to contain a reference to a much more distant future.

War between Syria (north) and Egypt (south) at the end time: Antichrist (Syria, North) is victorious over Egypt (south) and many countries up to the middle of Daniel’s seventieth week when the “eighth” or Revived Grecian Empire is formed. (Dan 7:24; 8:23-25; Rev 11:7; 13:1-18; 16:10; 17:3, 8-14, 16-17; 19:19-21)

Daniel 11:40 NASB “At the end time the king of the South will collide with him, and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, with horsemen, and with many ships; and he will enter countries, overflow them and pass through.

  • “At the end time, the king of the South will collide with him”

These kings are to be understood in reference to the times of which the prophet speaks. While the kingdoms of Egypt and Syria were subsisting, the king of the south and the north applied to them exclusively: but they did not exist at the time of which the prophet speaks; therefore other southern and northern powers must be sought. These we may find in the Saracens, who were of the Arabians, who came from the south, headed by the false prophet Mohammed, who pushed at him – made war on the Greek emperor Heraclius, and with amazing rapidity deprived him of Egypt, Syria, and many of his finest provinces. [Adam Clarke]

  • “and the king of the North will storm against him with chariots, with horsemen, and with many ships”

Pastor Dave Guzik says, “The Turks, who were originally Scythians, seized on the remains of the Greek empire; and in process of time rendered themselves masters of the whole. They are represented as coming like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen; their armies being chiefly composed of cavalry.”

An aspect we need to remind ourselves of is that the Bible is Israel and Middle-east centric. With Jerusalem as the center then north passes straight through Aleppo Syria, Ankara Turkey, and finally through Moscow Russia. It is most likely that Turkey is the focus here, but I am not sure that Turkey has the naval power to fulfill the many ships aspect.

  • “and he will enter countries, overflow them and pass through.”

    Having both the North and the South come against him would under normal circumstances mean the end for most. The word overflow also carries the meanings of rinsed, wash away, and to overwhelm. Here I am talking about the possibilities that this is Muslim leader and that might be, but I do not think it is in the strictest sense. Moscow is Russian, and, even though there is a Muslim influence, the animosity is great. Turkey, on the other hand, is not only Islamic but their leader, Erdogan Princip, thinks of himself as the last Mahdi, potentially filling the role of the Antichrist. Should the Muslim world throw itself behind him, there would be little to stand in his way.

New adversaries in the north and east in the middle of the week after he has conquered and acquired control of the ten kingdoms of Revised Rome. He conquers these in the last three and a half years and then brings them into Palestine to destroy Israel as he intended to do in the middle of the week when he broke the covenant with them and planted his tabernacle in the glorious holy mountain.

Daniel 11:41 NASB “He will also enter the Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall, but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab and the foremost of the sons of Ammon.

  • “He will also enter the Beautiful Land, and many countries will fall”

Any student of end times events understands that the beast/antichrist persona will enter Jerusalem. What we don’t seem to see is that other countries will fall as well. It truly seems that we are seeing prophecy played out before our eyes as several countries in the Middle East have had their leaders taken down and their countries left in piles of rubble. Syria is an ongoing process as we speak. Just because many of us live in the United States of America we think we will be secure. I no longer think that will be the case.

  • “but these will be rescued out of his hand: Edom, Moab and the foremost of the sons of Ammon.”

    Why? That is a good question but it requires background knowledge and the prophetic look into the future. If we start with the fact that Edom was/is the eldest son of Isaac, that in itself answers nothing pertaining to the question as to why God will rescue them. Perhaps the answer is somewhat buried and requires diligence to sort it out.

    • The Prophet Isaiah tells us,

      Isaiah 11:14-15 NET. They will swoop down on the Philistine hills to the west; together they will loot the people of the east. They will take over Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be their subjects. 15) The LORD will divide the gulf of the Egyptian Sea; he will wave his hand over the Euphrates River and send a strong wind, he will turn it into seven dried-up streams, and enable them to walk across in their sandals.

      “They,” in this passage, seems to be Judah. Judah was the Northern kingdom and seemed to be the bad seed. This is where we find King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. She also plays a significant role in end times events, as her name is associated with the Harlot (a rather surreal socio-economic empire) that rides the beast.

      Revelation 17:3 Moffatt NT 3) So he bore me away rapt in the Spirit to the desert, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet Beast covered with blasphemous titles; it had seven heads and ten horns.

       

      Revelation 17:16 MKJV and the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked. And they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

      So what we can ascertain from all this, is that God deems Edom, Moab, and the Ammonites to have been punished enough, and releases them from punishment.

Daniel 11:42 MKJV And he shall stretch out his hand on the lands. And the land of Egypt shall not escape.

  • He, of course, is this person. While Antiochus Epiphanes may have done this it applies to the near future as well. Egypt will not escape.

Ezekiel 29:14-15 NASB “I will turn the fortunes of Egypt and make them return to the land of Pathros, to the land of their origin, and there they will be a lowly kingdom. 15) “It will be the lowest of the kingdoms, and it will never again lift itself up above the nations. And I will make them so small that they will not rule over the nations.

Daniel 11:43 CJB he will control the treasures of gold and silver, as well as everything else in Egypt of value. Put and Ethiopia will be subject to him.

We already went over Daniel 11:28 but note how it says, “Then the king of the north will return to his own land with great wealth;” CJB

Albert Barnes commentary states, “Enriched with the spoils of Egypt. Having taken Memphis, and the fairest portions of Egypt, he would, of course, carry great wealth to his own country on his return. Thus it is said in 1 Macc. 1:19: “Thus they got the strong cities in the land of Egypt, and he took the spoils thereof.”

Sadly, because they are Apocryphal books, we ignore the historical aspects of books like 1Maccabees, which confirms that this person spoils the strong cities of the land of Egypt. This includes Chad, Sudan, Somalia, Lybia, Nigeria, and anything along the northern coast of Africa.

Daniel 11:44 CJB However, news from the east and north will frighten him so that he moves out in great fury to ruin and completely do away with many.

  • Everything we have seen so far points to a ruler in his attempts at global domination, but even that seems to evade him.

  • Extend a line to the farthest eastern coastlands and you will be in China. Since China is not Muslim friendly perhaps this plays a role.

  • Merely because his goal is to do away with many, does not mean he will be successful.

Daniel 11:45 CJB Finally, when he pitches the tents of his palace between the seas and the mountain of the holy Glory, he will come to his end, with no one to help him.

  • Tents, or as the KJV translates it, tabernacles. It is the Hebrew word ‘ôhel and means a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance.)

  • of his palace – ’appeḏen: A masculine noun indicating tent structure, a tented palace, pavilion.

    What can I ascertain from this?

    • He is establishing a palace.

    • It, at this point, is temporary.

    • It is meant to be seen, either that or, he is attempting to be an affront to God.

    • And, that this is his last resting place on earth.

      How do I know that?

  • “he will come to his end, with no one to help him.”

    The next thing we see is Christ returning with His saints to slaughter everyone that chooses to fight against Him. The NASB entitles this explanatory section of the Bible, The Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

    The epic battle begins in Revelation 19:6 and in Revelation 19:9 the speaker says to John the beloved, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

    Verse 19:11 initiates the Rider on the white horse and there is little doubt that we are seeing Jesus upon this horse. Verse 13 indicates that His name is called, The Word of God.

    In verse 14 He is followed by the armies of Heaven, also riding on white horses.

    These have one purpose, which we find in verse 15: “That He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.

      • Revelation 19:19-21 NASB 19) And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20) And the beast was seized, and with him, the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image; these two were thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with brimstone. 21) And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled with their flesh.

And thus ends chapter 11, This idea of a far distant future is not so far fetched as Daniel chapter 12 continues on with, “Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.” NASB

Posted in Daniel, End times, Islam, judgment, Prophetic, the fourth kingdom, Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Are there female angels? A brief interlude from the Daniel commentaries.

Posted on 08/04/2017 by remso

emale Angels? Are you serious?

A brother recently shared with us an occurrence where he told someone that there were female angels, and he used this passage Zechariah 5:9 to prove his statement.

Zechariah 5:9 NASB Then I lifted up my eyes and looked, and there two women were coming out with the wind in their wings; and they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heavens.

I could not recall an instance where I had seen a female angel described in scripture. Several of us read the passage and our immediate response, in general, was, sounds interesting, or, I had no idea.

Upon closer examination of the passage, “ two women were coming out with the wind in their wings; and they had wings like the wings of a stork”

  • The word women is the Hebrew word ishshah; a word never used of angels. It is however, overwhelmingly used to describe a wife. Since we know these are not meant to be seen as wives, then they are merely seen as women.

    ishshah (61a); from an unused word; woman, wife, female: – adulteress *(2), any woman.

    From the Word Study Dictionary: While this word predominantly means woman or wife, it is further used in various ways: those able to bear children (Gen_18:11); a widow (Ruth_4:5; 1Sa_27:3); an adulteress (Pro_6:26; Pro_7:5); female children (Num_31:18); or female animals (Gen_7:2).

    The instances where the word ishshah is translated to adulteress are minimal and not worthy of consideration. There is no assignment of evil, or other communication about them, so let’s just allow them to carry the basket with a woman in it, without excess speculation, to its destination.

  • The word not used is mal’âk, a Hebrew word used to define an angel. Look up the word angel, and you will never find it in relation to this incident.

    Hebrew – mal’âk/mal-awk’ From an unused root meaning to dispatch as a deputy; a messenger;

  • If you examine the idea of stork wings, you find that the concept is more like a hanging piece of cloth or cape being lifted, perhaps by the women themselves.

    The Hebrew word is kânâph/ kaw-nawf’ and means just an edge or extremity; (of a garment or bed clothing) a flap.

    Angels, by-the-way, have never been seen with wings.

    What does the verse say? “and they had wings like the wings of a stork.” Since we now know that the word could easily say, they had extremities to their garments like the wings of a stork; then the imagery should convey that like the seamless robes many wore, these women too had a robe like garment on, which hung from their arms.


    The IVPBB Commentary tells us this: women with wings. In the Old Testament angels are not female and are not portrayed with wings (though in Dan_9:21 Gabriel perhaps comes in swift flight; but see comment there). In Ugaritic literature Baal’s sister, Anat, is portrayed with wings. In Mesopotamian art winged creatures are generally either protective genies or demons. The goddess Ishtar is also occasionally portrayed with wings. Two winged female genies are portrayed flanking a stylized tree in a relief from the ninth century.

  • “there two women were coming out”

Many of the commentaries implied that the woman was being carried off to her punishment. That would make the two women conveyors of judgment, and they do not do that. Setting the woman on a pedestal, a place of momentary dignity, is just the opposite of punishment. We, make the assumption that the woman is left in the basket, but there is nothing that indicates she stays there. Because the angel seems to slam the lead lid back down upon her, you might correctly assume some hostility with this persona. Will this woman in the basket be judged? Absolutely; we have gathered the association of this woman with Babylon and the harlot of Revelation, and, there is no doubt that Babylon, the spiritual entity, also known as the harlot, is severely judged. You need to understand that the woman in the basket is representative of something much more encompassing the attractiveness of a woman, this is the global desire that attempts to entrap and pull us away from God continually.

Will this woman in the basket be judged? Absolutely; we have gathered the association of this woman with Babylon and the harlot of Revelation, and, there is no doubt that Babylon, the spiritual entity, also known as the harlot, is severely judged. You need to understand that the woman in the basket is representative of something much more encompassing the attractiveness of a woman, this is the global desire that attempts to entrap and pull us away from God continually.

Since we have the angels own words to help with this matter, then what did the Angel say the woman was?

Zechariah 5:5-8 NASB Then the angel who was speaking with me went out and said to me, “Lift up now your eyes and see what this is going forth.” 6) I said, “What is it?” And he said, “This is the ephah going forth.” Again he said, “This is their appearance in all the land 7) (and behold, a lead cover was lifted up); and this is a woman sitting inside the ephah.” 8) Then he said, “This is Wickedness!” And he threw her down into the middle of the ephah and cast the lead weight on its opening.

Notice that the angel shows no love nor respect for the entity inside the basket. No human being should be treated like that, and, we have an understanding of God’s nature and character when we read:

Matthew 18:14 NASB “So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish.

2 Peter 3:9 NASB The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

So it is safe to assume that God is not sending a human off to their destruction without judgment. Another factor that gives us clarity is the implications that this is a representation.

Depending on the translation you also get lawlessness, evil, and sin. Several translations even tell you, “this represents …” Since we are made aware that it looks like a woman, then there is an associated attractiveness or even a seduction to this evil.

The word translated as evil, wicked or lawless is the Hebrew word rish‛âh and means wrong (especially moral): – fault, wickedly (-ness).

Allowing scripture to interpret scripture I later returned to this subject and looked at the entirety of chapter five. I had noticed that the chapter speaks of:

  • a woman in a basket with a lead lid.

    Zechariah 5:11 NASB Then he said to me, “To build a temple for her in the land of Shinar; and when it is prepared, she will be set there on her own pedestal.”

I wanted to find out who is this woman is who having a temple built for her in the plain of Shinar,

Shinar, why does that sound familiar?

Genesis 10:8-11 NASB Now Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth. 9) He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD.” 10) The beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11) From that land he went forth into Assyria, and built Nineveh and Rehoboth-Ir and Calah,

What we have is a reliable link to Babylon of end times.

There is nothing good associated with Shinar at this point. You should have noted two other names; Babel, and Nineveh. Yes, this was the town the prophet Jonah was sent to with a message of repent or be destroyed. If you know the story, then you know Jonah wanted these people to die, but he also knew God would show them mercy.

Why such hatred toward a people? Because Israel had suffered tremendous harm at the hands of the Ninevehites/Assyrians, and Jonah, like so many others, carried an intense hatred and prejudiced against them. God, at least for a short period, had other plans; and, when Nineveh as a whole repented, God, for a time, relented on His judgment. Take the time to read the four chapters of Jonah. The last one finds Jonah, lying under gourd plant that has withered, wishing he was dead. When God speaks to Jonah, He explains that mercy is His to show, regardless of how Jonah feels about it.

The Life Application Study Bible commentary has a rather large paragraph about this, but only one small aspect makes any sense. It goes like this, “The woman in a basket was carried away “to the land of Babylonia,” which had become a symbol for the center of world idolatry and wickedness.”

      • Babel and Babylon are the same places. With certainty, the woman and Babylon have taken on a spiritual meaning.

Zechariah 5:11 And I am going to piece this to together from several version so that you can understand the ramifications.

(AMP) “And he said to me, To the land of Shinar [Babylonia] to build it a house,”

        • Consider this designation for a moment. When shown to the prophet, he sees a woman in a basket. However, he is told, “this is evil!”

          And, she will be set upon a pedestal.

          (BBE) “And he said to me, To make a house for her in the land of Shinar: and they will make a place ready, and put her there in the place which is hers.”

          What could that mean? If this is a fallen angel, then it apparently has a throne as well.

          (GNB) He answered, “To Babylonia, where they will build a temple for it. When the temple is finished, the basket will be placed there to be worshiped.“

          Considering that there is an association with Babylon, then, in what ways do we, the world, worship this harlot?
          The Good News Bible translation triggers off quick thoughts, as the entire world, it seems, will be forced to worship the image of the beast.

          Revelation 17:1 NASB Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters,

          Note the word sits. The woman that Zechariah saw in the basket is also seated; is this just a coincidence? I don’t think so.

          Revelation 14:8 NASB And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality.”

          Both of these references assign some lawlessness or evil to a feminine characterization. Revelation 14:8 intertwines the harlot not only with Babylon (what a coincidence) but her immorality as well. Because it uses the term passion, we are led to believe that there is a seductiveness.

          Zechariah 5:5-8 NASB Then the angel who was speaking with me went out and said to me, “Lift up now your eyes and see what this is going forth.” 6) I said, “What is it?” And he said, “This is the ephah going forth.” Again he said, “This is their appearance in all the land 7) (and behold, a lead cover was lifted up); and this is a woman sitting inside the ephah.” 8) Then he said, “This is Wickedness!” And he threw her down into the middle of the ephah and cast the lead weight on its opening.

Look at verse six from the Message version:

Zechariah 5:6 MSG I said, “What in the world is that?” He said, “This is a bushel basket on a journey. It holds the sin of everyone, everywhere.“

While I can grasp the idea that it contains the sin of everyone; our sins are completely characterized by one person – this woman referred to as “it.” However, it is not, at this moment in Scripture, directed at everyone. It is expressly directed at Israel; And, we know this because it says in Zechariah 5:6, “This is their appearance in all the land.” Can the world be enticed and therefore included? Absolutely. We are all taken in by the abominations of the earth. You know that Satan offered Jesus the kingdoms of this world and their glory. Pursue this in Matthew 4. Jesus responded to Satan with, “It is written,..” Israel, being the focus and center of God’s attention, is God’s focus in the statement, “This is their appearance in all the land.”

What we may be seeing here is the representation of the Harlot, the Mother of Harlots.

Revelation 17:5-6 NASB and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” 6) And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered greatly.

Note how it describes Babylon as the mother of harlots, AND of the abominations of the earth.

Revelation 18:2 NASB And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird.

We understand that a harlot entices you to give up your virginity, your dignity, destroy your marriage, and end your relationship with important and vital people in your life, like the wife; God. Now, look at the other descriptives: Babylon, a spiritual entity, is the woman drunk with the blood of saints and witnesses of Jesus. Isn’t it clear that this harlot is a murderer? It is also the dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit.

Revelation 18 concludes with Babylon, the great city, being thrown down with violence and not be found any longer. In reality, that throwing down, physically, happened not that long after perhaps Darius. Wikipedia tells us: It has been estimated that Babylon was the largest city in the world from c. 1770 to 1670 BC, and again between c. 612 and 320 BC. With some solid dates, we can associate the destruction of Babylon with the Alexandrian empire.

Posted in angels, bible study, End times, false teaching, Harlot of Revelation, judgment, Prophetic, Revelation, Things I have never noticed before, Thoughts, Zechariah | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Daniel Chapter 11, The king of the North sets his heart to break his covenant. Verses 28-33.

Posted on 08/03/2017 by remso

Two things I need to tell you.

  1. I am not as dry as these bible study notes might convey. I cannot tolerate sitting in some boring service, therefore, I refuse to be boring. I am animated; wave my hands around as I explain God’s word, and I make unusual faces to emphasize what I believe to be God’s frustration at the world. (While God may well get frustrated, He has no expectation of our performance, therefore, we are not held to some unreachable moral standard – Christ has redeemed us from the law. As followers of Christ, we have merely accepted the life He granted us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.)

Sinners, as the religious crowd likes to call them, are simply those outside of an intimate relationship with the Father, and yet, they are just as forgiven as the believer. What then is the difference? Relationship. Well now, wait a minute. One might say, I sit with those prune faces (that includes me) in church, and their faces show no life, this life in Christ of which we speak. I get that and here is why I think this is a common problem. Church leadership teaches sin. On the whole, we focus on how to backslide, or, we preach some convicting sermon on the evils of drink; when sin is nothing more than missing the bullseye of a target. Suppose that target is a long way off; everything we do and have interactions with is analogous to having the wind move you, or some distraction pulls you off target. Having shot in competitive archery, some 40+ years ago, I can completely understand the number of things that can make you miss the bullseye that now looks like an American dime at this distance. I realize this seems like I am being simplistic, but I am not exaggerating when I tell you that I have sat through this type of teaching for years now.

Well now, wait a minute. One might say, I sit with those prune faces (that includes me) in church, and their faces show no life – this life in Christ of which we speak. I get that and here is why I think this is a common problem. Church leadership teaches sin. On the whole, we focus on how to backslide, or, we preach some convicting sermon on the evils of drink. This teaching can be a problem as we walk away more adept in the knowledge of sin than of who we are in Christ.  Sin, on the other hand, is nothing more than missing the bullseye of a target. Now suppose that target is a very long way off; how difficult is it to hit a bullseye that seems no bigger than a dime. Everything we do and have interactions with is analogous to having the wind move you, or some distraction that pulls you off target. Having shot in competitive archery, some 40+ years ago, I completely understand the number of things that can make you miss the bullseye that now looks like an American dime at this distance. I realize this seems like I am being simplistic, but I am not exaggerating when I tell you that I have sat through sin teachings for years.

2. I have, over the last few years, come to understand what Islam teaches. I understand that many believe that the Mahdi is coming. It is easy to get wrapped up in the hatred such disturbed beliefs seem to deserve. Our difficulty, as followers of Christ, is to stay focused and not hate. On the optimistic side, many Muslims are coming to the Lord because they are having dreams in which Jesus shows up. The most recent I heard is that Jesus stands at the end of a bridge and bids them to come. Peculiar how they recognize Jesus having never seen Him; but then, how many of us have ever seen Him. The point of this is that one of the grandsons, asked me today, what country would I like to visit? I thought about for a couple of seconds, and told him, that if you had asked me that same question two or three years ago, my answer would have been Paris – for the beauty and romance; Italy – because its charm and cuisine; Spain – to take in the pageantry. There were so many places that ran through my mind, that because of pictures and travel logs, I have longed to go there. But, because of immigrants, looting, raping and pillaging the streets of virtually all of these cities, I would no longer feel safe there. Sadly, I espoused this information, out loud, to my young grandson as we walked up to the front of the warehouse store. My wife immediately admonished me to watch what I say. I did not consider that I was probably creating a fear in the boy as well, but thought about the possibility of a physical altercation I might have, as many Muslims shop there.

No, I have never had a problem like many of you are experiencing, but our turn, here in America, will come. I used to prophesy this to the church about ten years ago. For doing so I was effectively kicked out. Only a fool would look at the changes America has experienced and not see the looting, raping and pillaging, many of you are experiencing coming to America. The bottom line is that I have to fight against the prejudices I so easily fall into.

One of the things that I hear in my spirit, frequently, is Jesus response to the disciples as they asked Him, do you want us to call down fire on them? Depending on the preacher, you can get several types explanations for the rebuke Jesus gave them. I believe His come back was filled with wisdom and correction, for He said in Luke 9:54-56 NASB .. “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of;  for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”…

I do not write this to tell you how to deal with the violence many of you are surrounded with on a daily basis. I am telling you, that we, as followers of Christ, live in grace. If you try to perform some act of violence like I am aware of on my wife, I will react. I would love it if God gave me the green light to call fire down on those who are acting out, but He doesn’t.

Will a time in which He does grant the green light come? Absolutely, and it is right after the rapture of the church. Sadly, the church and grace will be gone, but the day of the prophet of the highest God will be back in force. Elijah called fire down on two separate groups of one hundred troops. Look this up 1Kings chapter one.

With that exposure to the inner struggles I have, I return to the commentary at hand.

Antiochus returns in glory and victory and sets his heart to break his Jewish covenant and plunder Palestine.

Daniel 11:28 CJB Then the king of the north will return to his own land with great wealth; with his heart set against the holy covenant, he will take action and then return home.

  • That is, Antiochus, with the spoils of Egypt, and the gifts and presents he had received there; so the author of the first book of Maccabees says, [John Gill]

set against the holy covenant. Roman, Greek and Jewish sources differ with regards to the details at this point.

There is no question that on his return from Egypt, Antiochus raided the temple treasury, most likely to secure additional funds for his continuing military activities. The sources disagree about whether this incident took place after the First Egyptian War (September 169) or after the Second. IVPBBC

And his heart shall be against the holy covenant; not the covenant he had made with Ptolemy, which was a fraudulent one; but the covenant between God and the Jews; whereby they became a distinct and peculiar people, having a religion, laws, and ordinances, different from all others; for which reason they were hated by other nations, and particularly by Antiochus; and his heart was the more enraged against them at this time, for the following reason; a false rumour being spread in Judea that Antiochus was dead, Jason took the opportunity to recover the office of high priest from his brother Menelaus; and, with a thousand men, took the city of Jerusalem, drove his brother into the castle, and slew many he took for his enemies. Antiochus, hearing of this, concluded the whole nation of the Jews had revolted from him; and therefore took Judea in his way from Egypt, in order to suppress this rebellion; in the Apocrypha: John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

Antiochus leads a second expedition into Egypt but is turned back by a mandate from Rome in league with Cyprus. He then turns against the Jews and many apostate Jews help him to pollute the temple altar and doing away with Jewish sacrifices.

Daniel 11:29 AMPC+ At the time appointed [God’s own time] he shall return and come into the South, but it shall not be successful as were the former invasions [of Egypt].

Second Egyptian War, 168. In the spring of 168, Antiochus again had to besiege Memphis, and he did so successfully, taking control of lower Egypt. As he again prepared to lay siege against a weakened Alexandria, he actually had himself crowned king of Egypt. But there was a difference this time. Egypt had appealed to Rome for help, and their ships arrived as he approached Alexandria. Roman consul Gaius Popillius Laenas met him by the walls of Alexandria and commanded Antiochus to leave Egypt. When Antiochus replied that he had to consult with his advisors, the Roman consul drew a circle in the dirt around the king and insisted that he give his answer before stepping out of the circle. A humiliated Antiochus conceded to Roman authority and straggled toward home looking for a way to vent his misery. This was probably in July 168. IVPBBC

Daniel 11:30 CJB because ships from Kittim will come against him so that his courage will fail him. Then, in retreat, he will take furious action against the holy covenant, again showing favor to those who abandon the holy covenant.

  • “because ships from Kittim will come against him”

    – this is modern day Cyprus

    Why Kittim? The island country of Cyprus is small, split between the Greeks and the Turks, and it is a known point for the trafficking of drugs and female sex slaves. Why then would it be a modern source of trouble? Perhaps a quick dip into Biblical genealogy can give us a clue.

    Genesis 10:1-4 NET. This is the account of Noah’s sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood. The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 3) The sons of Gomer were Askenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. 4) The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittim, and the Dodanim.

    Balaam, when pushed by Balak the son of Zippor – The comparison of Numbers 22:4 with Numbers 21:26 suggests that Balak was not the hereditary king but a Midianite, and that a change of dynasty had taken place.

    Balaam the son of Beor was from the first a worshipper in some sort of the true God; and had learned some elements of pure and true religion in his home in the far East, the cradle of the ancestors of Israel. But though prophesying, doubtless even before the ambassadors of Balak came to him, in the name of the true God, yet prophecy was still to him as before a mere business, not a religion.

    Numbers 24:23-25 NET. Then he uttered this oracle: “O, who will survive when God does this! 24) Ships will come from the coast of Kittim, and will afflict Asshur, and will afflict Eber, and he will also perish forever.” 25) Balaam got up and departed and returned to his home, and Balak also went his way.

    • Regardless of the insignificance of Kittim/Cyprus, or the national allegiance, God has spoken prophetically that destruction will come upon Eber and Asshur will be afflicted, all launched from the shores of Kittim.

    • “so that his courage will fail him.”

      Your courage failing you is not so tangible and has more of an internal effect. The word used here – כאה kâ’âh – means, properly, to become faint-hearted; to be frightened; to be dejected, sad, humbled, Job_30:8; Eze_13:22; Psa_109:16. The meaning here is, that he became dispirited, dejected, cast down, and abandoned his purpose.
      Because God and the prophetic, operates on a principle of pattern, then it is highly probable that we can expect this pattern once again. We may be looking Antiochus Epiphanes at the moment, but that will not be his name in the future.

  • “Then, in retreat, he will take furious action against the holy covenant, again showing favor to those who abandon the holy covenant.”

    For a second time (cf. Dan_11:28) Antiochus took out his frustration on the Jews, the city of Jerusalem, and their temple. He vented his fury against the holy covenant, the entire Mosaic system (cf. Dan_11:28), favoring any renegade Jews who turned to help him (cf. Dan_11:32). He desecrated the temple and abolished the daily sacrifice.
         Antiochus sent his general Apollonius with 22,000 soldiers into Jerusalem on what was purported to be a peace mission. But they attacked Jerusalem on the Sabbath, killed many people, took many women and children as slaves, and plundered and burned the city.

Daniel 11:31 CJB Armed forces will come at his order and profane the sanctuary and fortress. They will abolish the daily burnt offering and set up the abomination that causes desolation.

  • desecration of the sanctuary.

    According to the book of Maccabees, an individual named Geron was sent by Antiochus to dismantle Jewish religious practice. It is possible that the Syrian military contingent, seeking accommodation for their own worship practice, was partially responsible for some of the changes described in the temple. In December 167 a systematic program of instituting Greek religious practices at the expense of Jewish ones began in earnest. The sacrificial system and the Sabbath and festival observances were halted. Worship sites were set up around the country and circumcision was forbidden. The temple was consecrated to Zeus and became a center of polytheism and prostitution. IVPBBC

  • the abomination of desolation.

    In seeking to exterminate Judaism and to Hellenize the Jews, Antiochus IV forbade the Jews to follow their religious practices (including their festivals and circumcision), and commanded that copies of the Law be burned. Then he set up the abomination that causes desolation. In this culminating act he erected on December 16, 167 b.c. an altar to Zeus on the altar of burnt offering outside the temple, and had a pig offered on the altar. The Bible Knowledge Commentary

Daniel 11:32 NET. Then with smooth words, he will defile those who have rejected the covenant. But the people who are loyal to their God will act valiantly.

  • “Then with smooth words, he will defile those who have rejected the covenant.”

2 Chronicles 24:17 NET. 17) After Jehoiada died, the officials of Judah visited the king and declared their loyalty to him. The king listened to their advice.

The IVPBBC tells us, “There were many Jews who favored the Hellenization process and therefore, if promised personal benefit, would gladly side with the new policies. Foremost among these was Menelaus, the high priest, who was totally dependent on Antiochus for his lucrative office.”

We are trying to get a handle on what it is to be defiled, especially after rejecting the covenant. To begin with let’s look at alternate words:

  • pervert; seduce;

  • deceitfully dissemble;

  • those who violate the covenant;

  • those who have already abandoned their religion;

  • act wickedly toward the covenant

So, as you can see it is a broad spectrum of dispassionate acts.

those who act H7561 wickedly H7561 – rasha/raw-shah’ – A primitive root; to be (causatively do or declare) wrong; by implication to disturb, violate: – condemn, make trouble, vex, be (commit, deal, depart, do) wicked (-ly, -ness).

The Word Study Dictionary tells us, “In the simple stem, this verb means to be or to become guilty, to act wickedly.”

  • “But the people who are loyal to their God will act valiantly.”

    There is only one God, but to the Jew it is Jehovah. So, what does loyalty look like?

    If Antiochus IV is a precursor of future events, then it is safe to say that at this point in time Jesus will not have returned and Israel will be under siege. Daniel 11:31 are one of those indicators.

    Isaiah 65:12 CEV Your luck will end! I will see to it that you are slaughtered with swords. You refused to answer when I called out; you paid no attention to my instructions. Instead, you did what I hated, knowing it was wrong.

    We are told that 2/3 of Israel will be killed or destroyed by invaders. What is not clear to us is how they will defend themselves, nor how well.

    Ezekiel 5:12 CEV A third of you will die here in Jerusalem from disease or starvation. Another third will be killed in war. And I will scatter the last third of you in every direction, then track you down and kill you.

    Zechariah 13:8 CEV Nowhere in the land will more than a third of them be left alive.

    In trying to find comparable words that might give you a secondary witness it is difficult at best. There is, however, this from the Prophet Joel.

    Note the events and the timing, as they are deep in the middle of the tumult that we call the Great Tribulation. Joel describes a scenario where many are calling upon the name of the Lord. This act, whether confident or not, causes them to be delivered. The prophetic word also tells us that there will those that escape. There will be survivors.

    Joel 2:30-32 NASB “I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, Blood, fire and columns of smoke. 31) “The sun will be turned into darkness And the moon into blood Before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. 32) “And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the LORD Will be delivered; For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem There will be those who escape, As the LORD has said, Even among the survivors whom the LORD calls.

    Daniel 11:33 AMPC+ And they who are wise and understanding among the people shall instruct many and make them understand, though some [of them and their followers] shall fall by the sword and flame, by captivity and plunder, for many days.

  • “And they who are wise and understanding among the people shall instruct many and make them understand,”

    Here it is not the professionally trained theologians and clergy, but the ordinary people of God, Jews. While the commentary may presume that it will be “those believers taught in the word who understand doctrine, who will be used to instruct,” the problem is you can’t find a believer like that.

    The church is doing a terrible job of creating wise and those with understanding. Ask yourself this question, where will they learn, as they will be pressed for time and for their lives?

    Another aspect of scripture tells us that God will lift the veil from Israels eyes, and, in so doing they will come to a knowledge of Jesus as the Messiah. In other words, they will come to a wise understanding, and then, direct, and encourage the faith of others and the weaker believers during the time of tribulation and persecution.

    Here is where logic comes into play. When the church tells you that we cannot or do not do that anymore – that is walk in the power of the spirit, then who will tell them?

    As the time we are dealing with is “the great tribulation” then we should also know that there are two witnesses, sent from God, who stand in the streets of Jerusalem. These two preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and they walk in the mind bending power of the prophets. Since they are most likely Enoch and Elijah, they already have experience doing just that. I have suggested on many occassions that those who are left should follow their example.

  • “yet they will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for many days.”

    Great, you, while stuck here in the “great Tribulation”, are having amazing success. But there is no one to hang the neon signs that call people to your great faith rally. Why is that? Because, as Islam calls us the people of the book are seen as infidels worthy of only one thing, death.

    There really is no way around this as those who are beheaded for the gospels sake are in the uncountable numbers.

     

Related articles
Posted in antichrist, bible study, Daniel, End times, Islam, judgment, Prophetic, Thoughts on scripture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Daniel 11, the rise of the king of the North. Verses 17-27

Posted on 07/30/2017 by remso

I hate making rookie mistakes, but I am prone to the same errors many of you have encountered; that is, as I was going through my notes I noticed Daniel 11:15, 16 were missing. That would mean that I might have skipped by them when I did the bible study; maybe not. So, for the sake of completion I quickly added them in the previous post; however, this is where I made the rookie error. Note my comments.

Daniel 11:16 NASB “But he who comes against him will do as he pleases, and no one will be able to withstand him; he will also stay for a time in the Beautiful Land, with destruction in his hand.

As you saw in verse fifteen, there will be no strength to make a stand.

  • “ But he who comes against him will do as he pleases, and no one will be able to withstand him;”

    Antiochus III – also known as Antiochus the Great, is a forerunner and interchangeable with the Antichrist that is coming.

  • “he will also stay for a time in the Beautiful Land, with destruction in his hand.”

    The Revised Version translates the verse this way, “and he shall stand in the glorious land, and in his hand shall be destruction.”
    This is indicative of what will happen to Israel by the hand of Antichrist.

It seems harmless enough, but the most direct descendant would be Antiochus Epiphanes (IV), for he is the one who desecrated the temple; and, he is the one scholars tend to agree, they agree, is the pattern for the Antichrist that is coming. But, as I looked again at the descriptives I see in Antiochus the III, are there things here that fit the Antichrist? Yes. Are there exceptions? Yes. An example might be:

Daniel 11:42-45 RV He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43) 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. 44) But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: and he shall go forth with great fury to destroy and utterly to make away many. 45) And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the sea and the glorious holy mountain; yet, he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.

We will get to Daniel 11:42-45 eventually, but for the moment pay attention to the idea that “he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.” One might say that this alone indicates that he is not invincible, and he isn’t, but it is only the return of Jesus Christ to earth that puts a stop to this guy. Look at the context of the verses I included and you can see things like Egypt shall not escape; he shall have power over the treasures; “and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.”

In case there is any doubt that this guy meets his end, I give you:

Revelation 19:19-20 RV And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat upon the horse, and against his army. 20) And the beast was taken and with him the false prophet that wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image: they twain were cast alive into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone:

Yes, the Antichrist persona is also known as the beast.

Let’s continue on with Daniel 11; and yes, it actually took me four weeks to cover my notes, but I rushed through chapter 12 and I wish I had not done that.

Antiochus the Great and Ptolemy V come to terms. Antiochus gives Ptolemy his daughter who later helps her husband defeat the plans of Antiochus.

Daniel 11:17 NIV He will determine to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will make an alliance with the king of the South. And he will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom, but his plans will not succeed or help him.

He, is Antiochus the Great/AKA, Antiochus III.

  • To set one’s face in any direction is to determine to go there. The meaning here is, that Antiochus, flushed with success, and resolved to push his conquests to the utmost, would make use of all the forces at his disposal to overcome the Egyptians, and to bring them into subjection to his sway. He had driven Scopas from Coelo-Syria, and from Sidon; had subjected the land of Palestine to his control, and now nothing seemed to prevent his extending his conquests to the utmost limits of his ambition. [Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible]

  • From the IVPBBC – Antiochus III’s defeat by the Roman, Scipio (191, 190). The increasing Roman control in Greece was established by a peace accord in 196. The Greeks who were unhappy with this new state of affairs made contact with Antiochus, urging him to come to their aid.

    By this time, Antiochus, anticipating that he would need to neutralize Egypt, had entered a marriage alliance, sending his daughter, Cleopatra, to be Ptolemy V’s bride. He expected her to also be a useful spy, but in this he was disappointed as her loyalties turned to her new husband.

Daniel 11:18 NIV Then he will turn his attention to the coastlands and will take many of them, but a commander will put an end to his insolence and will turn his insolence back on him.

Nevertheless, he made his move toward Greece in 192.

Constantly shifting alliances eventually worked against him, and he lost a large portion of his ten thousand troops at Thermopylae in 191.

Antiochus III then resorted to sea battle to try to keep the Romans out of Asia Minor but was again unsuccessful.

By 190 the larger Seleucid army of seventy-thousand men had arrived to reinforce Antiochus’s positions. Roman troops under Scipio were only half this strength when the forces met at Magnesia (about fifty miles north of Ephesus). Yet due to lack of training and tactical errors on the part of the Seleucid army, Antiochus was defeated and much of his army slaughtered.

Daniel 11:19 NIV After this, he will turn back toward the fortresses of his own country but will stumble and fall, to be seen no more.

The terms of surrender were humiliating, devastating and accepted without argument. IVPBBC

Daniel 11:20 AMPC+ Then shall stand up in his place or office one who shall send an exactor of tribute to pass through the glory of the kingdom, but within a few days he shall be destroyed, [yet] neither in anger nor in battle.

Let’s try reading it from the NIV.

Daniel 11:20 NIV “His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor. In a few years, however, he will be destroyed, yet not in anger or in battle.

Who is this successor?

  • Seleucus IV Philopator (187-175). This son of Antiochus III had a relatively peaceful reign and appeared to have maintained favorable relations with Jerusalem. The exception alluded to in this verse was when he dispatched one of his chief officials, Heliodorus, to Jerusalem to seize funds that were reported to be either in excess of what was needed or hoarded by anti-Seleucid factions. Before the high priest, Onias III could get to Antioch to appeal the decision and offer explanation,

  • Seleucus was assassinated in a plot carried out by Heliodorus, with Antiochus IV suspected by historians of complicity. IVPBBC

Who gained the most from the murder of Seleucus IV’s murder? Antiochus IV.

Antiochus Epiphanes and dealings with Israel are pictured in Daniel 11:21-34.

He obtains his rule by flattery.

Daniel 11:21 AMPC+ And in his place or office [in Syria] shall arise a contemptuous and contemptible person, to whom royal majesty and honor of the kingdom have not been given. But he shall come in without warning in time of security and shall obtain the kingdom by flatteries, intrigues, and cunning hypocritical conduct. [Dan 8:9-12, Dan 8:23-25]

CJB “There will arise in his place a despicable man not entitled to inherit the majesty of the kingdom, but he will come without warning and gain the kingdom by intrigue.

a contemptuous and contemptible person – The NASB translated this as despicable. The Hebrew word is, bāzāh: A verb meaning to hold in contempt or to despise. The verb means to hold in disdain, to disrespect. It can mean to prefer something more than the thing despised,

  • Antiochus IV Epiphanes (175-164). Antiochus IV, the brother of Seleucus, had been in Rome as a political hostage and was just returning (he had got as far as Athens) when the assassination of his brother took place.

  • His goals included converting Jerusalem into a center for Greek culture and helping the Jews to make the transition to becoming Greek citizens with Greek ways.

  • The intrigues that he became involved in were many, but certainly, the main one concerning Jerusalem was how he handled the high priesthood.

  • The text calls him contemptible, and indeed he was. His title “Epiphanes” means “god manifest”—but the people preferred “Epimanes”—“madman.” While he was certainly a member of the royal line, the throne should have gone to Seleucus’s son, Demetrius (who instead was taking Antiochus’s place as hostage in Rome). Another intrigue concerned the throne. He set up a coregency with his nephew (a minor), who a few years later was murdered. IVPBBC

Keep in mind that Antiochus IV Epiphanes is the forerunner for the false prophet of the end times.

Question? How many beasts are we talking about? The Antichrist gets that title, as does the false prophet, and then there are the four empires with lions heads and bears paws, and also that multi-headed beast that emerges from the sea and one of the heads sustains what seems to be a mortal wound. The point is that both characters, the Antichrist and the false prophet, have such similar and destructive characteristics, and, they are both called beasts.

He makes a league with the high priest; deals deceitfully and becomes strong.

Daniel 11:22 CJB Large armies will be broken and swept away before him, as well as the prince of the covenant.

I need to show you a contrasting version.

Daniel 11:22 KJV 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 with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken,… That is, by the help of the forces of Eumenes and Attalus, which were like an inundation of water, the party that were on the side of Heliodorus the usurper were bore down, crushed, and destroyed; and thereby Antiochus had a peaceable settlement in the kingdom: or, “the arms of a flood shall be overflowed from before him, and be broken” (r); either the arms of Heliodorus, the forces he had got together; or the armies of the Egyptians, which, like an overflowing flood, had used to run over Judea, Coelesyria, Phoenicia, and other places, and carry all before them, now should be overflowed, and bore down themselves. [John Gill’s commentary]

  • prince of the covenant. Onias III was detained by Antiochus, and in the interim Jason, his brother conspired to usurp his position. He (Jason) paid a considerable sum to Antiochus and offered to be cooperative in the Hellenization of Judea (promotion of Greek culture at the expense of Jewish practices).

  • Three years later Menelaus, with the probable support of the Tobiads, paid a larger sum and, the precedent having been established, was awarded the office over Jason.

  • According to 2 Maccabees, Onias was murdered about 171.

  • Many identify him as the prince of the covenant referred to in this verse, but others attach that title to Ptolemy VI (see below). The overwhelming army in some way represents the opponents to Antiochus’s reign. This could include internal political opponents, Jewish antagonists or foreign opposition such as that which develops in Egypt. IVPBBC

Daniel 11:23 CJB Alliances will be made with him, but he will undermine them by deceit. Then, although he will have but a small following, he will emerge and become strong.

“The meaning of this seems to be, that at first, his own forces would be small; that he would go up in such a way as not to excite suspicion, but that, either by an increase of his forces there, by uniting himself to confederates, by alluring the people by the promise of rewards, or by gradually taking one town after another and adding them to his dominions, he would become strong. Jahn (Heb. Commonwealth, p. 263) says, “with a small body of troops he made himself master of Memphis, and of all Egypt as far as Alexandria, almost without striking a blow.” IVPBBC

Daniel 11:24 NET. In a time of prosperity for the most productive areas of the province he will come and accomplish what neither his fathers nor their fathers accomplished. He will distribute loot, spoils, and property to his followers, and he will devise plans against fortified cities, but not for long.

“into tranquillity, and the fattest places of the province” (s); that is, into such places as were in great tranquillity, and men thought themselves safe and secure, and had no suspicion of his designs upon them, and which abounded in wealth and riches: these were either the principal cities in the kingdom of Syria, which he visited in order to establish himself in their good opinion of him; or the chief places of the province of Phoenicia, where he endeavoured to make himself acceptable by his munificence; or it may be the best parts of the kingdom of Egypt are meant, the richest of them, such as Memphis, and the places about it; where, as Sutorius in Jerome says, he went; and which places being fat, producing a large increase, and abounding in wealth, invited him thither; and which wealth he took, and scattered among his friends and soldiers, as in a following clause:

and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers; none of his ancestors, more near or more remote; not Antiochus the great, nor Seleucus Ceraunus, nor Seleucus Callinicus, nor Antiochus Theos, nor Antiochus Soter, nor Seleucus Nicator, the founder of the Syrian empire; for, however greater these might be in power or riches, they were inferior to him in success; though they all, or most of them, however, had their eye upon Egypt, and would gladly have been masters of it; yet none of the kings of Syria prevailed over it, as Antiochus did; and this may also refer to what follows:

he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches; which he took from the places or rich cities he entered into; and these he plentifully and liberally dispersed among his followers, his soldiers, “the small people” he became strong with, Dan_11:23, whereby he gained their affections and attached them to his interest; and in this his liberality and munificence he is said to abound above all the kings that were before him, in the Apocrypha: John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

Makes war against Ptolemy of Egypt who is betrayed and killed and his army defeated.

Daniel 11:25 NIV “With a large army he will stir up his strength and courage against the king of the South. The king of the South will wage war with a large and very powerful army, but he will not be able to stand because of the plots devised against him.

First Egyptian War, 169. Antiochus’s dreams of adding Egypt to his kingdom were finally acted on in 169. His invasion was prompted by Egypt’s growing animosity and may even have been in response to Egypt’s military action, since the first encounter (November 170) was between Pelusium and Gaza. Nonetheless, Antiochus succeeded in capturing the city of Memphis and securing the surrender of Ptolemy VI. IVPBBC

Daniel 11:26 NIV Those who eat from the king’s provisions will try to destroy him; his army will be swept away, and many will fall in battle.

Ptolemy VI Philometor (181-146). Ptolemy VI was young when he came to the throne and was aided by two officials, Eulaeus and Lenaeus, who stirred up antagonism against Syria. The humiliation of Ptolemy in the First Egyptian War is thought to have been the result of bad advice given by his two advisors with the intention of undermining him. IVPBBC

Daniel 11:27 NIV The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but to no avail because an end will still come at the appointed time.

Unsuccessful siege of Alexandria. After his successful siege of Memphis, the citizens of Alexandria defied him by making Ptolemy’s younger brother king. Antiochus took immediate steps to break their revolt but was unable to take the city. As soon as he had returned to Syria, Ptolemy VI disavowed any loyalty to Antiochus and his coregency with his brother was reinstated. IVPBBC

Posted in Thoughts on scripture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment