18 September

Bible In 365 Days

Daniel 10-12

Daniel 10

The last things were revealed to Daniel in the reign of Cyrus. For three whole weeks he mourned and fasted as the result of a revelation to him of a great warfare. At the close of that period there appeared to him, by the side of the great river Hiddekel, a glorious Person. The description, when compared with that of John in Patmos, leaves no doubt that in this chapter we have the account of one of the Christophanies of the Old Testament. So radiant was the revelation that Daniel was reduced to weakness in the presence of it and filled with an overwhelming sense of awe.

While prostrate in the dust, he felt the touch of a hand and was lifted into the position of obeisance and adoration. He who had thus appeared to him and touched him then addressed him in words full of tenderness, bidding him not to fear, declaring that his loyalty to God was known and valued.

The glorious One then proceeded to foretell the history of Daniel's people in the latter days. There is a touch of mystic wonder about this story as this glorious One speaks of having been with the kings of Persia, of being in conflict with principalities, having dominion over earthly kingdoms, and being helped by a prince Michael, evidently of spiritual nature rather than a material manifestation.

Daniel 11

The foretelling of the glorious One is contained in this chapter. It covered a period to the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, and finally referred to the Messianic kingdom.

There would be yet three kings in Persia, and also a fourth, "richer than they all." The fourth would "stir up all against the realm of Greece." This undoubtedly would refer to Xerxes. Following the fourth there would be another, whose kingdom would be broken and scattered. Here the reference was to Alexander. Beyond that, there would be long conflict between the kings of the North and those of the South, until the coming of One who would cause an exactor to pass through the glory of the Kingdom, whose regime would be brief, and would end neither in anger nor in battle.

The reign of one contemptible in person, but gaining the kingdom by flatteries, is described at greatest length. There can be no doubt that the one referred to was Antiochus Epiphanes. His character and his methods were described. He would be unscrupulous, deceitful, and cruel, but the phrase, "even for a time," indicated that this man also would be within the government of God, and unable to proceed beyond the limit marked for him.

His campaigns against Egypt were foretold, together with his ultimate withdrawal, and his methods of deceit and corruption against the people of God. During the period of his oppression there would be a period of  "a little help,"  the reference being to the rising under the Maccabees. Ultimately the king of the South would contend with him, but would be overwhelmed by him. As a result, Antiochus Epiphanes would set forth on a new campaign of conquest, and finally perish on his way to Jerusalem.

Daniel 12

The last things are then foretold. Michael, the great prince, would stand up for the children of God's people, and there would ensue a time of trouble such as never had been. Beyond that there would be a resurrection, and the dawning of a new age. This prophecy was literally fulfilled under the Roman power.

Daniel was charged to shut the book and seal it to the "end of a time". He heard the man clothed in linen swear in mystic language by Him that liveth that these things would be for "a time, times, and a half," that the things finally foretold would be fulfilled only when the end of the breaking of the power of the holy people had come.

Filled with a sense of the mystery of the things he had seen and heard, the prophet inquired, "O, my Lord, what shall be the issue of these things?" The answer was that the words were shut up and sealed to the time of the end, and he was urged to go his way, that is, to attend to his own duty, and fulfil his own responsibility. Moreover, he was assured that blessing would be granted to those who waited, that he himself would rest, and yet stand in his lot at the end of the days.