Burunche’s Blog

Ecclesiastes 2:1-3 I said to myself, “Let’s go for it—experiment with pleasure, have a good time!” But there was nothing to it, nothing but smoke. What do I think of the fun-filled life? Insane! Inane! My verdict on the pursuit of happiness? Who needs it? With the help of a bottle of wine and all the wisdom I could muster, I tried my level best to penetrate the absurdity of life. I wanted to get a handle on anything useful we mortals might do during the years we spend on this earth.

I Never Said No to Myself

4-8 Oh, I did great things: built houses, planted vineyards, designed gardens and parks and planted a variety of fruit trees in them, made pools of water to irrigate the groves of trees. I bought slaves, male and female, who had children, giving me even more slaves; then I acquired large herds and flocks, larger than any before me in Jerusalem. I piled up silver and gold, loot from kings and kingdoms. I gathered a chorus of singers to entertain me with song, and—most exquisite of all pleasures—voluptuous maidens for my bed.

9-10 Oh, how I prospered! I left all my predecessors in Jerusalem far behind, left them behind in the dust. What’s more, I kept a clear head through it all. Everything I wanted I took—I never said no to myself. I gave in to every impulse, held back nothing. I sucked the marrow of pleasure out of every task—my reward to myself for a hard day’s work!

I Hate Life

11 Then I took a good look at everything I’d done, looked at all the sweat and hard work. But when I looked, I saw nothing but smoke. Smoke and spitting into the wind. There was nothing to any of it. Nothing.

12-14 And then I took a hard look at what’s smart and what’s stupid. What’s left to do after you’ve been king? That’s a hard act to follow. You just do what you can, and that’s it. But I did see that it’s better to be smart than stupid, just as light is better than darkness. Even so, though the smart ones see where they’re going and the stupid ones grope in the dark, they’re all the same in the end. One fate for all—and that’s it.

15-16 When I realized that my fate’s the same as the fool’s, I had to ask myself, “So why bother being wise?” It’s all smoke, nothing but smoke. The smart and the stupid both disappear out of sight. In a day or two they’re both forgotten. Yes, both the smart and the stupid die, and that’s it.

17 I hate life. As far as I can see, what happens on earth is a bad business. It’s smoke—and spitting into the wind.

18-19 And I hated everything I’d accomplished and accumulated on this earth. I can’t take it with me—no, I have to leave it to whoever comes after me. Whether they’re worthy or worthless—and who’s to tell?—they’ll take over the earthly results of my intense thinking and hard work. Smoke.

20-23 That’s when I called it quits, gave up on anything that could be hoped for on this earth. What’s the point of working your fingers to the bone if you hand over what you worked for to someone who never lifted a finger for it? Smoke, that’s what it is. A bad business from start to finish. So what do you get from a life of hard labor? Pain and grief from dawn to dusk. Never a decent night’s rest. Nothing but smoke.

24-26 The best you can do with your life is have a good time and get by the best you can. The way I see it, that’s it—divine fate. Whether we feast or fast, it’s up to God. God may give wisdom and knowledge and joy to his favorites, but sinners are assigned a life of hard labor, and end up turning their wages over to God’s favorites. Nothing but smoke—and spitting into the wind.

“My verdict on the pursuit of happiness? Who needs it?” Well, hello, Mr. Gloomypants! Now poor bored King Solomon is going to give us all the details of his pursuit of happiness. Drinking! Carousing! Wealth! Expanding the palace grounds! Tumbling into bed with voluptuous maidens! “Oh, how I prospered! I left all my predecessors in Jerusalem far behind, left them behind in the dust. What’s more, I kept a clear head through it all. Everything I wanted I took—I never said no to myself. I gave in to every impulse, held back nothing. I sucked the marrow of pleasure out of every task—my reward to myself for a hard day’s work!”

At this point, many of Solomon’s servants would undoubtedly like to speak up about what actually constitutes real work. Certainly, Solomon wasn’t out there building all these things and digging those lakes and canals, etc. And at the end of all this alleged suffering, Solomon concludes: “So what do you get from a life of hard labor? Pain and grief from dawn to dusk. Never a decent night’s rest. Nothing but smoke.

24-26 The best you can do with your life is have a good time and get by the best you can. The way I see it, that’s it—divine fate. Whether we feast or fast, it’s up to God. God may give wisdom and knowledge and joy to his favorites, but sinners are assigned a life of hard labor, and end up turning their wages over to God’s favorites. Nothing but smoke—and spitting into the wind.”

J.D. Rockefeller was the first true American billionaire with a fortune that defied description. But he found his real purpose in his last 40 years when he endowed universities and foundations that advanced medicine, science, and other avenues of learning.

Rockefeller spent much of the last 40 years of his life in retirement at Kykuit, his estate in Westchester County, New York, defining the structure of modern philanthropy, along with other key industrialists such as Andrew Carnegie.^[10] His fortune was used chiefly to create the modern systematic approach of targeted philanthropy through the creation of foundations that supported medicine, education, and scientific research.^[11] His foundations pioneered developments in medical research and were instrumental in the near-eradication of hookworm in the American South,^[12] and yellow fever^[13] in the United States. He and Carnegie gave form and impetus through their charities to the work of Abraham Flexner, who in his essay “Medical Education in America” emphatically endowed empiricism as the basis for the US medical system of the 20th century.^[14](Wikipedia)

The Book of Ecclesiastes gives us a clear picture of the tragedy of Solomon. Incredibly gifted and wealthy beyond belief, Solomon tried to satisfy himself with things rather than God. Millions of others have made the same mistake; however, only God can truly satisfy.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to find our fulfillment and purpose in You and nothing else. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Ecclesiastes 1 The Quester

1 These are the words of the Quester, David’s son and king in Jerusalem:

2-11 Smoke, nothing but smoke. [That’s what the Quester says.]
    There’s nothing to anything—it’s all smoke. What’s there to show for a lifetime of work, a lifetime of working your fingers to the bone?
One generation goes its way, the next one arrives, but nothing changes—it’s business as usual for old planet earth. The sun comes up and the sun goes down, then does it again, and again—the same old round. The wind blows south, the wind blows north.
    Around and around and around it blows, blowing this way, then that—the whirling, erratic wind. All the rivers flow into the sea, but the sea never fills up. The rivers keep flowing to the same old place, and then start all over and do it again. Everything’s boring, utterly boring—no one can find any meaning in it. Boring to the eye, boring to the ear.

What was will be again, what happened will happen again. There’s nothing new on this earth. Year after year it’s the same old thing.

Does someone call out, “Hey, this is new”? Don’t get excited—it’s the same old story.
Nobody remembers what happened yesterday. And the things that will happen tomorrow? Nobody’ll remember them either. Don’t count on being remembered.

I’ve Seen It All

12-14 Call me “the Quester.” I’ve been king over Israel in Jerusalem. I looked most carefully into everything, searched out all that is done on this earth. And let me tell you, there’s not much to write home about. God hasn’t made it easy for us. I’ve seen it all and it’s nothing but smoke—smoke, and spitting into the wind.

15 Life’s a corkscrew that can’t be straightened, a minus that won’t add up.

16-17 I said to myself, “I know more and I’m wiser than anyone before me in Jerusalem. I’ve stockpiled wisdom and knowledge.” What I’ve finally concluded is that so-called wisdom and knowledge are mindless and witless—nothing but spitting into the wind.

18 Much learning earns you much trouble. The more you know, the more you hurt.

Well! If you were looking for uplifting inspiration this morning, don’t read the first chapter of Ecclesiastes! Here’s King Solomon, the richest and wisest king who ever lived, courted by rulers from the ends of the earth, living in unimaginable splendor, and he’s BORED OUT OF HIS MIND!!! AND FRUSTRATED!!! Did I say frustrated?

Here’s a guy who literally has it all, and now he’s finding that it’s not enough. Look at some of these statements:

There’s nothing to anything—it’s all smoke. What’s there to show for a lifetime of work, a lifetime of working your fingers to the bone?

Everything’s boring, utterly boring—no one can find any meaning in it. Boring to the eye, boring to the ear.

Life’s a corkscrew that can’t be straightened, a minus that won’t add up.

What I’ve finally concluded is that so-called wisdom and knowledge are mindless and witless—nothing but spitting into the wind.

What’s wrong with this guy? He has everything others envy and he’s not satisfied. The big problem is that Solomon is looking for meaning and satisfaction in the wrong places. As we continue through this book, Solomon will give us more details, but it’s simple: Solomon needs God and he’s trying to fill a God-sized hole in his heart with something less.

Solomon’s complaints are eerily echoed in a poem by Edgar Arlington Robinson.

Richard Cory

By Edwin Arlington Robinson

Whenever Richard Cory went down town,

We people on the pavement looked at him:

He was a gentleman from sole to crown,

Clean favored, and imperially slim.

And he was always quietly arrayed,

And he was always human when he talked;

But still he fluttered pulses when he said,

“Good-morning,” and he glittered when he walked.

And he was rich—yes, richer than a king—

And admirably schooled in every grace:

In fine, we thought that he was everything

To make us wish that we were in his place.

So on we worked, and waited for the light,

And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;

And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,

Went home and put a bullet through his head.

It’s been said that “A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small package.” Forget the bling, the palaces, the entertainers, the wealth, and the learning. Solomon is wrapped up in himself. And we can make similar mistakes!! May God help us to seek Him above everything else.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to realize that You are our greatest treasure. Help us to realize that our hearts will always be restless until they find their rest in You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

For the next several weeks, we will be studying the Book of Ecclesiastes. Here is what Pastor Chuck Swindoll has to say about this book.

Who wrote the book?

The title “Ecclesiastes” comes from a Greek word indicating a person who calls an assembly, so it makes sense that the author identified himself in Ecclesiastes 1:1 by the Hebrew word qoheleth, translated as “Preacher.” Despite leaving only this rather mysterious name to indicate his identity, evidence in the book, along with most Jewish and Christian tradition, suggests that King Solomon authored Ecclesiastes.

The Preacher went on to call himself “the son of David, king in Jerusalem,” one who has increased in “wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me,” and one who has collected many proverbs (Ecclesiastes 1:1, 16; 12:9). Solomon followed David on the throne in Jerusalem as the only Davidic son to rule over all Israel from that city (1:12). He was the wisest man in the world during his time (1 Kings 4:29–30) and wrote most of the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 1:1; 10:1; 25:1). Therefore, we can safely identify Solomon as the qoheleth of the opening verse.

Where are we?

With Solomon as the author of the book, we know it had to have been written sometime before his death in 931 BC. The content of Ecclesiastes reflects someone looking back on a life that was long on experience but short on lasting rewards. As king, he had the opportunity and resources to pursue the rewards of wisdom, pleasure, and work in and of themselves. Yet the world-weary tone of the writing suggests that late in life, he looked back on his folly with regret, pointing us to a better, simpler life lived in light of God’s direction (Ecclesiastes 12:13–14).

Why is Ecclesiastes so important?

Ecclesiastes presents us a naturalistic vision of life—one that sees life through distinctively human eyes—but ultimately recognizes the rule and reign of God in the world. This more humanistic quality has made the book especially popular among younger audiences today, men and women who have seen more than their fair share of pain and instability in life but who still cling to their hope in God.

What’s the big idea?

Ecclesiastes, like much of life, represents a journey from one point to another. Solomon articulated his starting point early in the book: “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2), indicating the utter futility and meaninglessness of life as he saw it. Nothing made sense to him because he had already tried any number of remedies—pleasure, work, and intellect—to alleviate his sense of feeling lost in the world.

However, even in the writer’s desperate search for meaning and significance in life, God remained present. For instance, we read that God provides food, drink, and work (2:24); both the sinner and the righteous person live in God’s sight (2:26); God’s deeds are eternal (3:14); and God empowers people to enjoy His provision (5:19). Ultimately, the great truth of Ecclesiastes lies in the acknowledgment of God’s ever-present hand on our lives. Even when injustice and uncertainty threaten to overwhelm us, we can trust Him and follow after Him (12:13–14). 

How do I apply this?

We all desire meaning in life. Often that search takes us along winding, up-and-down paths filled with bursts of satisfaction that shine bright for a time but eventually fade. In one sense, it’s satisfying to see that experience echoed throughout Ecclesiastes. An appreciation for our common humanity emerges from reading its pages. We relate to the journey of Solomon because, for so many of us, it is our own. When we attempt to find meaning in the pursuit of pleasure, the commitment to a job, or through plumbing intellectual depths, we all eventually find in each of these pursuits a dead end.

Ecclesiastes shows us a man who lived through this process and came out on the other side with a wiser, more seasoned perspective. When we’re surrounded by the temptation to proclaim life’s ultimate emptiness, we can find in Ecclesiastes a vision tempered by experience and ultimately seen through divinely colored lenses. Life is destined to remain unsatisfying apart from our recognition of God’s intervention. It only remains to be seen whether or not we will place our trust in His sure and able hands.

Have you struggled with misplaced pursuits in life? Does your life lack the meaning and purpose you desire? Hear the words of Solomon that they might encourage you to place your trust solely in the Lord.

How do I decide which book of the Bible to write about next? God tells me. God knows human hearts and God knows what each of us needs to hear from Him. Rest assured that somewhere in these studies, God wants to speak to you individually and that He wants to give light on the problems you’re facing. As we begin this study, let’s pray for guidance.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, You are the Creator and Sustainer of all of us. We are nothing without You. Please open our eyes so that we might see wonderful things in Your Word and hide Your Word in our hearts, that we might not sin against You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Daniel 12 The Time of the End

“At that time Michael, the archangel who stands guard over your nation, will arise. Then there will be a time of anguish greater than any since nations first came into existence. But at that time every one of your people whose name is written in the book will be rescued. Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting disgrace. Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever. But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase.”

Once more, we are left wondering when these events are going to take place. Clearly, these prophecies speak of the end times, and once more, we can’t be certain where we stand with the end time calendar. But we know that there will be a persecution of the Jews that will dwarf anything that has happened previously, including the Holocaust, during which six million Jews were slaughtered. God knows His people and will rescue them and raise them from the dead, many to everlasting life and many more to “shame and everlasting disgrace.”

But while darkness threatens to envelop the earth, “those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.” Oh, how wonderful! Oh, how magnificent! Oh Lord, may we be found faithful! May we be among those who lead many to righteousness, so that we will “shine like the stars forever!”

Then I, Daniel, looked and saw two others standing on opposite banks of the river. One of them asked the man dressed in linen, who was now standing above the river, “How long will it be until these shocking events are over?”

The man dressed in linen, who was standing above the river, raised both his hands toward heaven and took a solemn oath by the One who lives forever, saying, “It will go on for a time, times, and half a time. When the shattering of the holy people has finally come to an end, all these things will have happened.”

I heard what he said, but I did not understand what he meant. So I asked, “How will all this finally end, my lord?”

But he said, “Go now, Daniel, for what I have said is kept secret and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined by these trials. But the wicked will continue in their wickedness, and none of them will understand. Only those who are wise will know what it means.

“From the time the daily sacrifice is stopped and the sacrilegious object that causes desecration is set up to be worshiped, there will be 1,290 days. And blessed are those who wait and remain until the end of the 1,335 days!

“As for you, go your way until the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days, you will rise again to receive the inheritance set aside for you.”

When Jesus’ disciples begged him to tell them when the end would come, Jesus told them that only the Heavenly Father knew the day and the hour. No matter how many theories are generated, it’s still true that only God the Father knows precisely when the end will come.

But we know one thing: God’s timing is perfect. Acts 2:1 tells us, “When the day of Pentecost had fully come…” God’s timing is split second and when the time has come for the fulfillment of these prophecies, nothing and nobody can delay the sovereign Will of God.

What is left for us to do? We must dare to pursue righteousness just as Daniel did. We must not flinch in the face of attacks or adversity. And we must remain true to God and His Holy Word, even at the cost of our lives. Recently, in parts of West Africa, Christians have been martyred during baptism services and other worship services. Those of us living in safer places must realize that we too can die for our faith, just as Charlie Kirk has done recently.

May God help us to remain true and may we love God more each day than we did the day before!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hard after You, no matter the price. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Daniel 11:21-44 “The next to come to power will be a despicable man who is not in line for royal succession. He will slip in when least expected and take over the kingdom by flattery and intrigue. Before him great armies will be swept away, including a covenant prince. With deceitful promises, he will make various alliances. He will become strong despite having only a handful of followers. Without warning he will enter the richest areas of the land. Then he will distribute among his followers the plunder and wealth of the rich—something his predecessors had never done. He will plot the overthrow of strongholds, but this will last for only a short while.”

Guzik explains:  In his place shall arise a vile person: The angel told Daniel that after the brief reign of the former king of the North, the next king would be a vile person. He would not be recognized as royalty, but shall take power by intrigue.

b. In his place: This was fulfilled in the successor of Seleucis III, named Antiochus IV. He did not come to the throne legitimately because it was strongly suspected that he murdered his older brother, the previous king. The other potential heir (the son of Seleucus III) was imprisoned in Rome.

i. He shall come in peaceably: Apart from the murder of his older brother, Antiochus IV didn’t use terror to gain power. He used flattery, smooth promises, and intrigue.

ii. “He flattered Eumenes, king of Pergamus, and Attalus his brother, and got their assistance. He flattered the Romans, and sent ambassadors to court their favour, and pay them the arrears of the tribute. He flattered the Syrians, and gained their concurrence.” (Clarke)

iii. Antiochus IV took the title Epiphanes, meaning illustrious. Others derisively called him Epimanes, meaning madman.

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

Again, Guzik tells us: a. He shall act deceitfully: The angel told Daniel that the new king of the North (the vile person of Daniel 11:21) would attempt a deceitful covenant with the king of the South. This would fail, and there would be a great battle that would not change the balance of power.

b. He shall stir up his power: This was fulfilled when Antiochus Epiphanes carried on the feud between the dynasties but pretended friendship and alliance to catch them off guard. Despite massive efforts and epic battles, Antiochus Epiphanes did not stand, and his army was swept away.

i. The defeat of Antiochus Epiphanes at his second campaign against Egypt was important, because Egypt beat Antiochus with the help of Rome. At the end of it all, Antiochus Epiphanes and his kingdom were under the dominion of Rome.

ii. In a famous battle, the Roman Navy defeated the navy of Antiochus Epiphanes. After the battle, a Roman general drew a circle around Antiochus in the dirt and demanded to know if he would surrender and pay tribute to Rome – and demanded to know before he stepped out of the circle. From that point on there was no doubt: Antiochus Epiphanes took his orders from Rome and was under Roman dominion.

iii. Those who eat of the portion of his delicacies shall destroy him: This was fulfilled in the treachery against Antiochus IV by his own counselors.

“The king of the north will then return home with great riches. On the way he will set himself against the people of the holy covenant, doing much damage before continuing his journey.

29 “Then at the appointed time he will once again invade the south, but this time the result will be different. 30 For warships from western coastlands[e] will scare him off, and he will withdraw and return home. But he will vent his anger against the people of the holy covenant and reward those who forsake the covenant.

While returning to his land with great riches: Failing in his invasion of Egypt, Antiochus Epiphanes returned home with only great plunder to soothe his wounded pride.

ii. Ships from Cyprus shall come against him: This was naval assistance from the Romans, who helped the Egyptians turn back Antiochus Epiphanes.

iii. They shall take away the daily sacrifices, and place there the abomination of desolation: Antiochus Epiphanes set up an image of Zeus at the temple altar. He demanded sacrifice to this image, and later desecrated the temple by sacrificing a pig on it. “It was in truth an abomination, which brought a desolate condition to the Temple, for now no one would come to worship at all.” (Wood)

31 “His army will take over the Temple fortress, pollute the sanctuary, put a stop to the daily sacrifices, and set up the sacrilegious object that causes desecration. 32 He will flatter and win over those who have violated the covenant. But the people who know their God will be strong and will resist him.”  (Some translations read “The people who know their God will be strong and will do exploits.”) When Antiochus Epiphanes turned on Jerusalem, the Jewish people were divided. Some forsook their covenant with God and embraced Greek culture. Those who knew their God made a stand for righteousness in the face of incredible persecution.

33 “Wise leaders will give instruction to many, but these teachers will die by fire and sword, or they will be jailed and robbed. 34 During these persecutions, little help will arrive, and many who join them will not be sincere. 35 And some of the wise will fall victim to persecution. In this way, they will be refined and cleansed and made pure until the time of the end, for the appointed time is still to come.”

36 “The king will do as he pleases, exalting himself and claiming to be greater than every god, even blaspheming the God of gods. He will succeed, but only until the time of wrath is completed. For what has been determined will surely take place. 37 He will have no respect for the gods of his ancestors, or for the god loved by women, or for any other god, for he will boast that he is greater than them all. 38 Instead of these, he will worship the god of fortresses—a god his ancestors never knew—and lavish on him gold, silver, precious stones, and expensive gifts. 39 Claiming this foreign god’s help, he will attack the strongest fortresses. He will honor those who submit to him, appointing them to positions of authority and dividing the land among them as their reward.”

For many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering: In his attack on Jerusalem Antiochus IV is said to have killed 80,000 Jews, taken 40,000 more as prisoners, and sold another 40,000 as slaves. He also plundered the temple, robbing it of approximately $1 billion by modern calculations.

vi. Until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time: This terror could only last for as long as God had appointed it, and God had a purpose even for such persecution and blasphemy.

a. He shall exalt and magnify himself above every god: The angel explained to Daniel that this king would blaspheme God and exalt himself until the wrath has been accomplished and what has been determined shall be done.

b. Above every god: Here we shift from what was fulfilled in the Ptolemies and the Selucids to what will be fulfilled in the Antichrist, the final world dictator. Daniel was told that this revelation pertained to the latter days (Daniel 10:14), and Daniel 11:36 begins to look more towards this final world dictator, who is sort of a “last days Antiochus Epiphanes.”

i. We know that everything about this prophecy was not fulfilled during the career of Antiochus Epiphanes. Jesus specifically said the real abomination of desolation was still in the future (Matthew 24:15). The Apostle Paul paraphrased Daniel 11:36 in reference to the coming Antichrist: Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

ii. Antiochus Epiphanes is important, but mostly as a historical preview of the Antichrist. This is why so much space is given to describing the career of one evil man – because he prefigures the ultimate evil man. Antiochus Epiphanes is the “trailer” released well before the Antichrist, who is like the “feature.”

c. He shall exalt and magnify himself above every god: Antiochus Epiphanes certainly did this in the general sense that all sinners oppose God. Yet he remained loyal to the Greek religious tradition, which revered the entire Olympian pantheon. Antiochus Epiphanes put a statue of Zeus in the temple, not of himself. This statement will be far more precisely fulfilled in the Antichrist, who sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

d. Shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished: Antichrist will do much damage, but he is on a short chain and will only work into God’s plan. God’s purpose will be accomplished.

40 “Then at the time of the end, the king of the south will attack the king of the north. The king of the north will storm out with chariots, charioteers, and a vast navy. He will invade various lands and sweep through them like a flood. 41 He will enter the glorious land of Israel,[h] and many nations will fall, but Moab, Edom, and the best part of Ammon will escape. 42 He will conquer many countries, and even Egypt will not escape. 43 He will gain control over the gold, silver, and treasures of Egypt, and the Libyans and Ethiopians will be his servants.

44 “But then news from the east and the north will alarm him, and he will set out in great anger to destroy and obliterate many. 45 He will stop between the glorious holy mountain and the sea and will pitch his royal tents. But while he is there, his time will suddenly run out, and no one will help him.

He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. But in their place, he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. Thus, he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain.

a. He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women: Based on this, some Bible scholars believe that the Antichrist will be of Jewish descent… These things may not be popularly known about the man, but they may be true nonetheless.

i. 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 Haggai 2:7. Seeing the desire of women as Jesus makes most sense in light of the flow of context.

b. He shall honor a god of fortresses: The Antichrist will take and hold power with military might and the shrewd use of great riches.

3. (40-45) The final conflict.

At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.

a. At the time of the end: The angel described to Daniel a confederation of kings coming against this great leader, with a battle in and near the Holy Land.

b. King of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind: Prophetically speaking, a precise identification of peoples mentioned is difficult. The king of the South may be Egypt or represent the Arab community. The king of the North may be the Antichrist’s domain (as the “new Antiochus Epiphanes”) or it may be Russia.

i. The precise points may be cloudy, but the general idea is clear. The end will be marked by great conflict, culminating in the world’s armies gathering in the Promised Land to do final battle.

c. Yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him: In the end there is no hope for the Antichrist or for any of his followers.

Once more, prophecy functions on two levels, the centuries immediately after Daniel and the end times. Where are we on the divine time line? Who knows? For centuries, believers have claimed they were living through the end times, only for more tragedies to occur. The key lesson for us from this chapter comes in 11:32. But the people who know their God will be strong and will resist him.” Some translations read “The people who know their God will be strong and will do exploits.”

The title of these studies is “Dare to be a Daniel!” Throughout Daniel’s life, he continued to pray, to worship, and to remain true to God. Not even growling lions could sway Daniel. Can the same be said of us? In the wake of the murder of Charlie Kirk, many of his enemies have said vicious hateful things. Evil has thrown away its mask and it’s worse than our wildest dreams. Will we stand for God, for truth, for justice, and for the right, or will we falter and fail? May God give us the courage to stand, no matter what!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to stand firm against all attacks, strengthened and emboldened by You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Daniel 11:1-20 The Angel Gabriel continues his explanation

 Ever since Daniel recorded these visions, there are critics who have insisted that someone else recorded events after the fact; however, God is perfectly capable of revealing the future to those who are faithful. I fully believe that these visions were given to Daniel. Why did God give these revelations to Daniel? Each of these rulers would threaten the very existence of the Jews and God issuing a warning.

These texts describe very complicated political maneuverings. For an excellent detailed explanation, please see David Guzik’s Enduring Word Bible Commentary. https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/daniel-11/

(I have been standing beside Michael to support and strengthen him since the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede.) [The Angel Gabriel is still speaking.]

Kings of the South and North “Now then, I will reveal the truth to you. Three more Persian kings will reign, to be succeeded by a fourth, far richer than the others. He will use his wealth to stir up everyone to fight against the kingdom of Greece.” Three more Persian kings did arise, the last one being Xerxes.David Guzik points out, “These visions and insights regarding the future of the Persian and Greek Empires were relevant because each empire attempted to wipe out the people of God at some time.”

i. The Persian Empire tried to wipe out the Jewish people during the reign of Xerxes, through the plot of Haman (as shown in the Book of Esther).

ii. The Greek Empire tried to wipe out the Jewish people during the reign of Antiochus IV, when he attempted to kill every Jew who did not renounce their commitment to God and embrace Greek culture.

“Then a mighty king will rise to power who will rule with great authority and accomplish everything he sets out to do. But at the height of his power, his kingdom will be broken apart and divided into four parts. It will not be ruled by the king’s descendants, nor will the kingdom hold the authority it once had. For his empire will be uprooted and given to others.”

Alexander the Great conquered huge territories and died prematurely at the age of 32. Guzik: “This prophecy does not mainly concern Alexander because he did no harm to Jerusalem, though he conquered the general area. The ancient historian Josephus records the interesting arrival of Alexander the Great to Jerusalem, and how he was shown the Book of Daniel by the high priest (whom Alexander had previously seen in a vision). Alexander was so impressed that he spared Jerusalem and granted it religious toleration.”

“The king of the south will increase in power, but one of his own officials will become more powerful than he and will rule his kingdom with great strength.” The kingdom of the north is the Seleucids, based in Syria, while the kingdom of the south is the Ptolemy kingdom of Egypt. The two kingdoms vied back and forth for 130 years with the stronger kingdom controlling the Holy Land.

“Some years later an alliance will be formed between the king of the north and the king of the south. The daughter of the king of the south (Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy II) will be given in marriage to the king of the north (Antiochus II) to secure the alliance, but she will lose her influence over him, and so will her father. She will be abandoned along with her supporters. But when one of her relatives becomes king of the south, (PtolemyIII) he will raise an army and enter the fortress of the king of the north and defeat him. When he returns to Egypt, he will carry back their idols with him, along with priceless articles of gold and silver. For some years afterward he will leave the king of the north alone.”

“Later the king of the north will invade the realm of the king of the south but will soon return to his own land. However, the sons of the king of the north will assemble a mighty army that will advance like a flood and carry the battle as far as the enemy’s fortress.”

“Then, in a rage, the king of the south will rally against the vast forces assembled by the king of the north and will defeat them. After the enemy army is swept away, the king of the south will be filled with pride and will execute many thousands of his enemies. But his success will be short lived.”

“A few years later the king of the north will return with a fully equipped army far greater than before. At that time there will be a general uprising against the king of the south. Violent men among your own people will join them in fulfillment of this vision, but they will not succeed. Then the king of the north will come and lay siege to a fortified city and capture it. The best troops of the south will not be able to stand in the face of the onslaught.”

“The king of the north will march onward unopposed; none will be able to stop him. He will pause in the glorious land of Israel, intent on destroying it. He will make plans to come with the might of his entire kingdom and will form an alliance with the king of the south. He will give him a daughter in marriage in order to overthrow the kingdom from within, but his plan will fail.”

“After this, he will turn his attention to the coastland and conquer many cities. But a commander from another land will put an end to his insolence and cause him to retreat in shame. He will take refuge in his own fortresses but will stumble and fall and be seen no more.”

“His successor will send out a tax collector to maintain the royal splendor. But after a very brief reign, he will die, though not from anger or in battle.”

Guzik explain: This was fulfilled in the brief reign of Seleucus III, the eldest son of Antiochus III. He sought to tax his dominion (including the glorious kingdom, the Holy Land) to increase revenues. His plan to pillage the Jerusalem temple was set aside when his ambassador had an angelic vision of warning. Within a few days he shall be destroyed: Seleucus III was assassinated, probably by his brother Antiochus IV.

The Ghanaians have a saying that “When two elephants fight, it is the grass that gets trampled.” In the fights between the Ptolemies and the Seleucids, the Holy Land continually comes under attack. I have deliberately omitted mentioning most of the rulers, feeling that if you really want more information, you can read Mr. Guzik’s extremely detailed discussion.

What we can gain from these verses viewed in the rear-view mirror of history is that God is giving Daniel very specific prophecies about what will happen in the next few centuries in the Middle East. Why does God do this? God is also going to give Daniel end-time prophecies and He wants those coming after Daniel to see how these prophecies have been fulfilled so that they will believe the end-time prophecies as well.

What is important for us is that God sees all, knows all, and remains as the Supreme Ruler of the Universe. Knowing these things, we can trust God to guide us and give us wisdom for the troubled days in which we live.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, You are the Ruler of the Universe and You are the One who orders our lives. Help us to trust You and follow hard after You all the days of our lives. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Daniel 10:1-21 Daniel’s Vision of a Messenger

10 In the third year of the reign of King Cyrus of Persia,[536 B.C.] Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) had another vision. He understood that the vision concerned events certain to happen in the future—times of war and great hardship.

When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed.

On April 23, [On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar. This date in the book of Daniel can be cross-checked with dates in surviving Persian records and can be related accurately to our modern calendar. This event occurred on April 23, 536 B.C.] as I was standing on the bank of the great Tigris River, I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen clothing, with a belt of pure gold around his waist. His body looked like a precious gem. His face flashed like lightning, and his eyes flamed like torches. His arms and feet shone like polished bronze, and his voice roared like a vast multitude of people.

Only I, Daniel, saw this vision. The men with me saw nothing, but they were suddenly terrified and ran away to hide. So I was left there all alone to see this amazing vision. My strength left me, my face grew deathly pale, and I felt very weak. Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground.

Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.

Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.”

While he was speaking to me, I looked down at the ground, unable to say a word. Then the one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing in front of me, “I am filled with anguish because of the vision I have seen, my lord, and I am very weak. How can someone like me, your servant, talk to you, my lord? My strength is gone, and I can hardly breathe.”

Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. “Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!”

As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.”

He replied, “Do you know why I have come? Soon I must return to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia, and after that the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece will come. Meanwhile, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. No one helps me against these spirit princes except Michael, your spirit prince.”

How does one become a prophet? There have always been many self-styled prophets; however, the calling to be a prophet is a special one that can only come from God. Although there are some young prophets, many times the gift of prophecy comes more strongly to the elderly who have suffered and experienced loss. The challenge is simple: true prophets become channels of God’s Word, omitting their own opinions. True prophets also pray and seek God’s perfect Will, rather than simply representing their own ideas. When God began giving Daniel the visions that he recorded, Daniel was elderly, having served the Babylonians and then the Medo-Persian Empire for decades.

At the time of this vision, Daniel had been praying and fasting for three weeks. Although he continued to eat, he evidently was taking very simple food, likely bread, water, and vegetables. Although Daniel was undoubtedly bathing, he refused to anoint himself with the fragrant lotions that men of his stature would normally use. How did Daniel know that he needed to pray special prayers and fast? Sometimes the convicting power of the Holy Spirit will come upon us, and we simply know that we must do something, even though we have no explanations. Obedience brings enlightenment. Disobedience leads to futility.

When the angel came to Daniel, the fear of the Lord fell on Daniel’s companions and they fled. Daniel himself fainted and only stood after the angel had touched him, giving him supernatural strength.

Notice what the angel says to Daniel: “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.”  Later, the angel repeats that affirmation by saying, “Don’t be afraid, for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!”

“You are very precious to God.” WOW! How many of us believe we are precious to anybody, let alone to God? Most of us believe that we are toilers in obscurity, struggling to make it through our daily routine. If the angel had said nothing more than this simple statement, Daniel would still have been thrilled for the rest of his life. But there’s far more.

Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.”

Let’s look at this assurance:

1. Daniel’s requests were heard in heaven from the first day when he began to pray for understanding. Many times, we are impatient with God, feeling that when God does not answer as promptly as we wish, it means that God is not listening to us.
2. Daniel’s requests were heard in heaven when he humbled himself.  Why must we humble ourselves before we can hear from God? In Luke 18:9-14 Jesus tells the story of two men who went to the temple to pray. The pharisee stood in the middle of the temple, reciting his virtues while the tax collector huddled in a corner, beating his breast and begging, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” Jesus assured his audience that it was the tax collector who was justified before God and not the pharisee. As long as we are lecturing God, we can’t possibly hear from Him.
3. The angel began coming to Daniel; however, the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed him for three weeks and he required help from the archangel Michael. When we underestimate the evil opposing us, we make a sad mistake. The assassination of Charlie Kirk has unleashed a fire storm of filthy comments from those opposing what Kirk stood for. God has used Kirk’s death to rip the mask off the face of evil, and never again can believers pretend that their critics and opponents are simply misguided individuals who can easily be brought to the light. The war against evil is very real.
4. This vision will be fulfilled in the future, and the spiritual battle will contine.  “Do you know why I have come? Soon I must return to fight against the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia, and after that the spirit prince of the kingdom of Greece will come. Meanwhile, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. No one helps me against these spirit princes except Michael, your spirit prince.”

God in His Infinite Wisdom has created Daniel, training Daniel when he was young, and has allowed Daniel to be carried off to Babylon, knowing that eventually the Medo-Persian Empire will succeed the Babylonian Empire. Throughout Daniel’s life, he has persistently and consistently honored God. Now God is favoring Daniel with visions that foreshadow those described in Revelation. At the same time, Daniel’s description of this vision also gives us a glimpse of the reality of spiritual warfare. Tomorrow we will continue to explore the lessons from this vision, but for today, remember that if you want God to reveal things to you, you must humbly and persistently seek Him in prayer.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, You are the One with all the wisdom in the universe while we only posses tiny crumbs. Help us to honor You in everything we say and do. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.