The Struggle for Power
“Now in those times many shall rise up against the king of the South. Also, violent men of your people shall exalt themselves in fulfillment of the vision, but they shall fall....But he who comes against him shall do according to his own will, and no one shall stand against him. He shall stand in the Glorious Land with destruction in his power...Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits." (Daniel 11:14,16,32)
Every day in this fallen world can feel like a struggle. A struggle to see clearly, think clearly, and to keep yourself in the love of God as you live out your faith against the current of deception and the Babylonian residue in the world. It was the same reality for Daniel who ever since he was taken captive into Babylon, had to purpose in his heart not to defile himself as he watched one kingdom rise and fall after another.
Struggles are constant. There will always be certain difficulty and opposition or danger when a person is trying to get to a desired destination that others are competing for, especially when men's hearts are lifted up in pride and are trying to position themselves for power.
The first struggle for power took place in the Garden of Eden and was a clash between the spiritual world and the physical world. The fallen angel Lucifer, who became the Devil and Satan, sought to take authority over Adam and Eve's lives so that he could have dominion of what God had given to them on the earth. The question always comes down to which voice we would listen to and WHETHER WE WILL KEEP GOD'S WORD OR NOT.
When Adam and Eve submitted to the deceiving voice of the devil, they were taken captive to do his will and they were forced to leave the Garden that God had placed them in. Then God placed Cherubim to guard the way into the Tree of Life with a flaming sword to protect it.
Ever since Christ came into the world as the promised King and Messiah, we have been given the sword of the Spirit to fight against the enemy of our souls. As we "submit to God and resist the devil, he has to flee and we are able to kick him out of the garden of our hearts.
O How powerful it is when we live our faith under the authority of God and stand our ground against the evil schemes and tactics of the devil! The Lord comes to fight our battles for us! He will show us great and mighty things that we do not know...since, after all, it is the Lord who has the final word and His mighty hand is over all the struggles for power that take place in our world...especially as it relates to His people and His redemptive purpose.
Praise God that He gives His angels charge over us to affect human affairs and struggles and to protect His chosen people…and to direct those who seek to carry out God’s purpose.
As it says in 1 Chronicles 29:11-12:
“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all.”
Therefore, God is ALWAYS in Control: Although both physical and spiritual hands are at play,
God’s hand ensures that His purpose alone will stay. Don't ever forget this dear saint!
Daniel 11 reminds us how God amazingly shows us through His heavenly messengers future history before it happens with specific detailed accuracy. He was given prophetic revelation of what would take place for the next 130 years in the power struggle within the Persian and Greek empires and the leaders that would rise and fall...eventually leading to rise of the Roman empire and into the last days. God gives specific detailed narratives between the kings of the north in Syria (the Seleucids) and the kings of South in Egypt (the Ptolemies).
Why were these wars of great concern to God?
ANSWER: Because the glorious land of Israel was right in between these power struggles.
All of this culminated in the leader named Antiochus IV (Epiphanes - illustrious, divine) who serves as one of the types of the final Antichrist who comes against God's chosen people and sought to end the sacrifices and to defile the temple. In the prophecy given to Daniel, it says, “So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant. And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation." (Dan. 11:30-31)
This same Antioches Epiphanes would serve as a TYPE of the Lawless One (Anitchrist) who would rise up in the end. Antioch IV would eventually be stopped by Judas Maccabaeus and the Maccabean Revolt. However, this "vile person" would first attack Jerusalem and kill 80,000 Jews, take 40,000 more as prisoners, and sell another 40,000 as slaves...and ultimately would plunder and defile the temple. All of this happened precisely as was revealed ahead of time to Daniel.
In the midst of those who oppose the true and living God, there is always a remnant who know their God and who submit to the Power over all the powers. Daniel heard these comforting words, "Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall BE STRONG, and carry out great exploits." (Dan. 11:32).
In the time of one of the greatest persecutions against Israel, God always comes to the aid of those who show their faith and loyalty to Him and even will fight for those He entered into a covenant that He might carry out His eternal purpose and promises.
Today, we must stand our ground and BE STRONG IN THE LORD and the power of His might (Eph. 6:10) and give no place to the devil.
Let us remember the words that the Apostle Paul spoke to the church in Corinth:
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled" (2 Cor. 10:3-6).
DANIEL CHALLENGE:
THE FIRST CONFLICT WE MUST SURELY WIN
IS AGAINST THE LIES OF THE MIND WITHIN,
SINCE JESUS DEFEATED THE DEVIL AND SIN
LET’S STAND IN TRUTH AND SUBMIT TO HIM!
Discussion Questions for Home Groups:
1. When God chooses to reveal what will happen in the future (prophecy), what does this teach us about our faith and the common struggles and events that are popping up in our world today?
2. Share you thoughts on how God's people do not always represent His will or or His ways as He carries out His promises for both Israel and the Church. In other words, how are you learning to make sense of man's free will decisions (which are often sinful) in the midst of God's sovereign plan and purpose in having the final word and say on all things?
3. What does it mean that "those who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits?" How have you seen this truth in your own life or having an impact in our present time?
4. Let's share any further thoughts, insights, or questions concerning the Book of Daniel at this point and what this book has been doing in your personal walk and journey with the Lord.
Every day in this fallen world can feel like a struggle. A struggle to see clearly, think clearly, and to keep yourself in the love of God as you live out your faith against the current of deception and the Babylonian residue in the world. It was the same reality for Daniel who ever since he was taken captive into Babylon, had to purpose in his heart not to defile himself as he watched one kingdom rise and fall after another.
Struggles are constant. There will always be certain difficulty and opposition or danger when a person is trying to get to a desired destination that others are competing for, especially when men's hearts are lifted up in pride and are trying to position themselves for power.
The first struggle for power took place in the Garden of Eden and was a clash between the spiritual world and the physical world. The fallen angel Lucifer, who became the Devil and Satan, sought to take authority over Adam and Eve's lives so that he could have dominion of what God had given to them on the earth. The question always comes down to which voice we would listen to and WHETHER WE WILL KEEP GOD'S WORD OR NOT.
When Adam and Eve submitted to the deceiving voice of the devil, they were taken captive to do his will and they were forced to leave the Garden that God had placed them in. Then God placed Cherubim to guard the way into the Tree of Life with a flaming sword to protect it.
Ever since Christ came into the world as the promised King and Messiah, we have been given the sword of the Spirit to fight against the enemy of our souls. As we "submit to God and resist the devil, he has to flee and we are able to kick him out of the garden of our hearts.
O How powerful it is when we live our faith under the authority of God and stand our ground against the evil schemes and tactics of the devil! The Lord comes to fight our battles for us! He will show us great and mighty things that we do not know...since, after all, it is the Lord who has the final word and His mighty hand is over all the struggles for power that take place in our world...especially as it relates to His people and His redemptive purpose.
Praise God that He gives His angels charge over us to affect human affairs and struggles and to protect His chosen people…and to direct those who seek to carry out God’s purpose.
As it says in 1 Chronicles 29:11-12:
“Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all.”
Therefore, God is ALWAYS in Control: Although both physical and spiritual hands are at play,
God’s hand ensures that His purpose alone will stay. Don't ever forget this dear saint!
Daniel 11 reminds us how God amazingly shows us through His heavenly messengers future history before it happens with specific detailed accuracy. He was given prophetic revelation of what would take place for the next 130 years in the power struggle within the Persian and Greek empires and the leaders that would rise and fall...eventually leading to rise of the Roman empire and into the last days. God gives specific detailed narratives between the kings of the north in Syria (the Seleucids) and the kings of South in Egypt (the Ptolemies).
Why were these wars of great concern to God?
ANSWER: Because the glorious land of Israel was right in between these power struggles.
All of this culminated in the leader named Antiochus IV (Epiphanes - illustrious, divine) who serves as one of the types of the final Antichrist who comes against God's chosen people and sought to end the sacrifices and to defile the temple. In the prophecy given to Daniel, it says, “So he shall return and show regard for those who forsake the holy covenant. And forces shall be mustered by him, and they shall defile the sanctuary fortress; then they shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation." (Dan. 11:30-31)
This same Antioches Epiphanes would serve as a TYPE of the Lawless One (Anitchrist) who would rise up in the end. Antioch IV would eventually be stopped by Judas Maccabaeus and the Maccabean Revolt. However, this "vile person" would first attack Jerusalem and kill 80,000 Jews, take 40,000 more as prisoners, and sell another 40,000 as slaves...and ultimately would plunder and defile the temple. All of this happened precisely as was revealed ahead of time to Daniel.
In the midst of those who oppose the true and living God, there is always a remnant who know their God and who submit to the Power over all the powers. Daniel heard these comforting words, "Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall BE STRONG, and carry out great exploits." (Dan. 11:32).
In the time of one of the greatest persecutions against Israel, God always comes to the aid of those who show their faith and loyalty to Him and even will fight for those He entered into a covenant that He might carry out His eternal purpose and promises.
Today, we must stand our ground and BE STRONG IN THE LORD and the power of His might (Eph. 6:10) and give no place to the devil.
Let us remember the words that the Apostle Paul spoke to the church in Corinth:
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled" (2 Cor. 10:3-6).
DANIEL CHALLENGE:
THE FIRST CONFLICT WE MUST SURELY WIN
IS AGAINST THE LIES OF THE MIND WITHIN,
SINCE JESUS DEFEATED THE DEVIL AND SIN
LET’S STAND IN TRUTH AND SUBMIT TO HIM!
Discussion Questions for Home Groups:
1. When God chooses to reveal what will happen in the future (prophecy), what does this teach us about our faith and the common struggles and events that are popping up in our world today?
2. Share you thoughts on how God's people do not always represent His will or or His ways as He carries out His promises for both Israel and the Church. In other words, how are you learning to make sense of man's free will decisions (which are often sinful) in the midst of God's sovereign plan and purpose in having the final word and say on all things?
3. What does it mean that "those who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits?" How have you seen this truth in your own life or having an impact in our present time?
4. Let's share any further thoughts, insights, or questions concerning the Book of Daniel at this point and what this book has been doing in your personal walk and journey with the Lord.
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