Sunday: Prophecies About Persia and Greece
Read Daniel 11:1-4. What do we see here that reminds us of some of the previous prophecies we have seen in Daniel?
Gabriel tells Daniel that three kings will still rise from Persia. They will be followed by the fourth king, who will be the richest one of all and will provoke the Greeks. After Cyrus, three successive kings exert dominion over Persia: Cambyses (530-522 B.C.),
Cyrus and Daniel Image © Review and Herald Publishing collection at GoodSalt.com
the False Smerdis (522 B.C.), and Darius I (522-486 B.C.). The fourth king is Xerxes, mentioned in the book of Esther as Ahasuerus. He is very wealthy (Esther 1:1-7) and marshals a vast army to invade Greece, as predicted in the prophecy. But, in spite of his power, he is repelled by a smaller force of valiant Greek soldiers.
It is not difficult to recognize Alexander the Great as the mighty king who arises in Daniel 11:3, and who becomes the absolute ruler of the ancient world. At the age of 32, he died without leaving an heir to rule the empire. So the kingdom was divided among his four generals: Seleucus over Syria and Mesopotamia, Ptolemy over Egypt, Lysimachus over Thrace and portions of Asia Minor, and Cassander over Macedonia and Greece.
Compare Daniel 11:2-4 with Daniel 8:3-8, Dan. 8:20-22. How do these texts together help identify Alexander as the power here?
What can we learn from this assortment of names, dates, places, and historical events? First, we learn that the prophecy is fulfilled as predicted by the divine messenger. God’s Word never fails. Second, God is the Lord of history. We may get the impression that the succession of political powers, leaders, and kingdoms is propelled by the ambition of emperors, dictators, and politicians of all stripes. However, the Bible reveals that God is in ultimate control and will move the wheel of history according to His divine purpose, which ultimately will lead to the eradication of evil and the establishment of God’s eternal kingdom.
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Hi,
can someone please shed more light on the following:
who was cambyses?
why is he called false Smerdis?
why is Alexander called 'the great'?
xerxes vs Ahasuerus,how to link the two to be one?
NB: If God is in the control of the history; He is also in control of coronavirus and He will ultimately eradicate it.
Cambyses was the son of Cyrus. Their line were the rulers of the Achaemenid Empire. Cyrus ruled from 550-530 BC and Cambyses from 530-522BC. There is some question about Smerdis (Smerdis is the Greek name while Bardiya is the Persian name), who is generally thought of as Cambyses younger brother or a court official Gaumāta who impersonated him – hence the descriptor “false”. In any case he ruled for only a few months before he was deposed by Darius the Great.
I think that “Alexander the Great” is simply an appellation of history. He was called that because of his remarkable conquest of the Mediterranean and Mesopotamian world.
Xerxes and Ahasuerus are simply titles in different languages. Ahasuerus is a title used in Hebrew (hence it is probably redundant to say King Ahasuerus) while Xerxes I (Persian name) was probably the ruler in Esther’s time. The historian, Herodotus's description of Xerxes I is consistent with the Ahasuerus of Esther.
Finally, we need to be careful that we do not add to the disinformation regarding the COVID-19 virus. Some large churches have been claiming that God will protect them and have continued to meet against the very best advice that is available. Certainly pray for God’s protection but at the same time, practice good hygiene, active exercise, drink water often and avoid physical contact with other people.
We know that COVID-19 will be eliminated in the new earth, but we may have to live with it and its consequences for some time here on this earth. It is going to be a time when we should put our Christianity into practice in helping one another.
Thanks Maurice, this information really helped. please research and give more information about coronavirus.
God bless you.
Please let’s all calm down about the Wuhan Chinese Corona Virus. First, getting the virus is not a death sentence. At this point in time, the statistics indicate that the death rate for those who get the virus, is about 1%; yes higher for those in high risk categories but none the less it is not a death sentence for most who contract it. This is high a high death rate compared to a common virus ( most about 1/10th of that ) but not a death sentence buy any means. This 1% number is likely to drop as we learn the actual mathematical denominator, the actual number of people getting the virus. It is expected to settle at .03%- 1%. The African Ebola virus from just a few years ago was/is by comparison, much more dangerous with a death rate that ranged from 25% to 80% depending on the type of care the person received. This was brought under control quite rapidly as the African countries involved allowed in the US CDC and WHO experts in right away. China on the other hand rebuffed help from these organizations.
There are treatment therapies for Corona Virus literally being tested now and we will have a vaccine within a year. The virus in all likelihood, will fade during the warming months coming as most virus do. In the mean time be vigilant about cleanliness, surfaces and your hands and avoid close contact with other people.
God is in control but like in our personal lives, we are tested from time to time from the evil (including diseases) that exist in this world. This too shall pass.
thanks Jim
Just a few comments:
1) The death rate is very dependent on the capability of a country’s health system. When the healthcare system is overwhelmed (as it is in Italy), the death rate is significantly greater than occurred in China.
2) Due to political policy and public health funding issues that resulted in inadequate preparation and testing, the US appears to be on track to have results similar to Italy.
3) Once China got over its political denial and took significant steps to deal with COVID, both its infection and death rates decreased.
4) Countries in which COVID-19 started in the “summer” season (e.g., Australia) appear to have an infection rate similar to China and other nations, where infection occurred during the “winter” season. In other words, it is likely that the arrival of summer will have any significant effect on the spread of COVID-19.
5) Those who are overweight, obese, diabetic, smoke tobacco (or other drugs) and have cardiovascular disease are at significantly greater risk of dying from COVID-19. Aside from the measures mentioned by Mr. Williams, a healthy lifestyle is protective against death from the virus.
Blessings... And this too shall pass
Job 2:3 contains a rather confronting concept - that Satan actually and successfully "incited" God to do other than God would have preferred to do within this 'temporal' realm.
A conceptualisation of God as "in control" needs to be able to account for this recorded reality.
Yes, God is overarchingly 'in control' within the eternal realm. The overarching message of the book of Daniel tells us that. But Job tells us that this is not the same as saying that God controls everything that is going on within our 'temporal' realm. And Daniel 8:12 echoes essentially this same sentiment - "the little horn will do as it pleases and prosper".
Could this be why Jesus chose to leave us with the parting assurance that regardless of what happens along the way to the eventual and ultimate 'victory', He will be with us always (each and every microsecond along that way), even to the end.
Recall that, only a handful of chapters ago, Daniel's 3 friends were faced with the very real prospect of death. Yes, they were rescued, but it is recorded that they did not assume this was going to be the outcome (Daniel 3:17,18). What was their faith anchored to that enabled them to accept an uncertain future with certainty?
I believe that one of the lessons Dan 11 is teaching us is that because of the Great Controversy between the North and South the people of the Glorious Land will sometimes suffer difficult times. The experiences of Job teaches us that although the LORD would like to enable us to have a comfortable life on earth sometimes it is not possible in His greater plan. Think about the experiences of Paul and the disciples, read Hebrews 11, those of faith who had miracles and those that suffered terrible lives, Heb 11:35-40. What is most important is not a comfortable life now but a relationship with the LORD and His promise of eternal life in a perfect new world.
Remember that the Word predicts that there will be pestilences in the latter days, this might not be the last one but what do we learn about the world's response to a crisis? Normal operations are canceled, people are locked up in a cruise ship even if they are not sick, the normal buying and selling is drastically affected, people allow laws to be made which normally they wouldn't. Read Rev 13-19.
God is in control of history. We know this by the study of prophecies in the Bible. Thus, nothing that is happening now can be only by chance. We live in a world that is going down, to the point that only a miracle can save it. That's why we must carry the faith that all of this will pass and new things shall replace our current nature. Let us do what we can to help society, and also to prepare ourselves to see the 2nd coming of Jesus soon!
that last kingdom of the statue in this dream, the feet made of iron of clay, which kingdom is this?
Most historicist interpreters think that this refers to the multitude of nations than came after the papacy lost control of Europe.
The feet of iron mixed with clay are the same as the 10 horns of Revelation 17, and those in Revelation 13:8 who's names are NOT written in the Lamb's book of Life. It is the world that opposes God and His people, who give their "power and strength" to the beast, and "make war with the Lamb"(Rev 17:12-14).
Different views of the same people.
Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from(Covid 19) as he did with the three Hebrew boys from burning fiery furnace and He will
delivered them.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.
Isa 43:2
I think we need to be careful about how we interpret that that verse. It is part of a poem and in the poem, it is a powerful metaphor about the assurance of our salvation.
There is no doubt that some people who have faith in God who will die from the COVID-19 virus, but they should die in the full assurance of their salvation in Jesus.
Remember that there were martyrs who died at the burning stake, or were drowned on a rising tide for whom that verse by itself would have sounded hollow. I must admit that sometimes I wish the Bible had not been sliced into verses but left as poetry and prose so that we are less likely to grab texts out of their context.
One further thought on the COVID-19 virus that I should mention. I have read a number of Christian websites and blogs where people have commented on the situation. There are a lot of conspiracy theory comments and apocalyptic statements that have little merit. COVID-19 is a disease and a sign that we live in a sin-tainted world. It is no respecter of persons and is likely to attack believer and non-believer alike. Your best defence is good hygiene and avoiding large gatherings where you are in close contact with people. You cannot afford to be presumptive. In my own sphere of activity, our U3A classes have been suspended for the time being because we are dealing mainly with older folk, many of whom travel overseas. The South Pacific Division (SPD) has closed its offices because some of the administrators have been overseas and one has tested positive. It is that sort of precaution that will slow the spread of the disease and give the hospital system a better chance of coping.
By all means, pray, but put your prayers into good practice, and be willing to provide help to those who are more vulnerable than yourself.
Why is Daniel Chapter 11 a repetition of the previous chapter 8 more especially in the first verses?
Please Sir (Maurice) I am confused in Sunday lesson.About the kings of Persia, who is Xerxes?
Is Xerxes the same Artaxerxees?
Please help me to understand this
Thanks
There were several Xerxes (3) and Artaxerxes (4) from memory so the short answer is; no they are not the same. If you check the history of the Achaemenid Empire, you will get a list of their kings. Some of them were rather short-lived.