WEBVTT 00:00:00.420 --> 00:00:03.160 Thanks very much, Casey and Steph, and good morning, everyone. 00:00:03.379 --> 00:00:05.679 If you have your Bible open, please keep it open. 00:00:05.799 --> 00:00:09.580 If you don't have an open Bible, you might well find it helpful as we go through, 00:00:09.839 --> 00:00:14.460 because we haven't read the whole passage, but I will refer to quite a lot of it as we go. 00:00:16.080 --> 00:00:17.760 Welcome to General Election Week. 00:00:18.059 --> 00:00:20.339 It feels a bit momentous, doesn't it? 00:00:21.140 --> 00:00:23.580 If the polls are even vaguely accurate, 00:00:23.940 --> 00:00:29.260 we're likely to have only the third change of governing party in the last 45 years, 00:00:29.260 --> 00:00:32.359 and that feels, in many ways, quite a big deal. 00:00:33.320 --> 00:00:37.120 Or at least it did until this week I was reading Daniel chapter 11. 00:00:38.060 --> 00:00:44.359 And Daniel 11 is looking not just at a period of decades, but at a period of centuries. 00:00:45.520 --> 00:00:50.780 And he's giving very much the message that kingdoms will rise and kingdoms will fall, 00:00:51.520 --> 00:00:54.660 rulers will become powerful, and then they'll be defeated. 00:00:54.659 --> 00:01:01.199 But at the end of everything, what really matters is that God is in control. 00:01:01.319 --> 00:01:05.859 I think Maggie said God will win, and that is absolutely right. 00:01:06.899 --> 00:01:11.539 So as we come to a General Election Week, let's have confidence in our God. 00:01:11.620 --> 00:01:14.759 Whatever happens, our God is in control, 00:01:15.159 --> 00:01:20.199 and ultimately our God will be seen to be the God of gods. 00:01:20.200 --> 00:01:25.100 There was something else to do with the General Election that came to me 00:01:25.100 --> 00:01:28.340 as I was looking at these passages this week. 00:01:28.900 --> 00:01:33.079 And that is how we get our information and our understanding. 00:01:33.719 --> 00:01:36.219 And I think it comes essentially in three ways, 00:01:36.300 --> 00:01:40.240 which I think are relevant as we look at this section of Daniel. 00:01:41.420 --> 00:01:44.980 Some information we get about the election is straightforward, 00:01:45.780 --> 00:01:47.939 relatively easy to understand. 00:01:47.939 --> 00:01:52.299 It's in the interest of the political parties to have slogans 00:01:52.299 --> 00:01:54.599 that come across as simple and straightforward, 00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:57.959 and people can say, yes, I identify with them. 00:01:58.840 --> 00:02:02.840 So in this election, the Conservative Party is promising it will cut our taxes. 00:02:03.620 --> 00:02:06.259 Labour Party is promising it will grow the economy. 00:02:06.959 --> 00:02:11.060 And the Liberal Democrats are promising that they'll sort out social care. 00:02:11.699 --> 00:02:14.360 Simple messages that we probably can understand, 00:02:14.360 --> 00:02:19.280 at least at a high level, without anyone explaining them to us. 00:02:20.340 --> 00:02:23.440 I think there's that in these chapters in Daniel. 00:02:23.540 --> 00:02:25.960 Now, they are long and they're complicated. 00:02:26.740 --> 00:02:30.000 But if you were to read through them and try to make sense of them, 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:32.400 I think you would get some key messages. 00:02:32.580 --> 00:02:34.660 And they might look something like this. 00:02:35.660 --> 00:02:39.100 Chapter 10 has material about conflict in the heavens. 00:02:39.099 --> 00:02:42.139 Now, it gets complicated, but we can understand there's something in there 00:02:42.139 --> 00:02:44.579 about conflict in the heavens. 00:02:45.840 --> 00:02:49.240 Chapter 11 is about chaos on the earth. 00:02:49.780 --> 00:02:51.919 All these rulers who come and go, 00:02:52.319 --> 00:02:55.459 and there's lots of detail in there which we'll come back to. 00:02:55.959 --> 00:02:59.500 But the message is there's lots happening in our world. 00:02:59.939 --> 00:03:01.159 Everything is temporary. 00:03:01.359 --> 00:03:06.359 No ruler is forever because only God is eternal. 00:03:06.360 --> 00:03:06.540 No. 00:03:07.260 --> 00:03:09.060 And that then brings us to chapter 12, 00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:11.880 which gives comfort for God's people. 00:03:12.620 --> 00:03:13.160 And it says, 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:15.980 despite all the troubles that we see in our world, 00:03:16.020 --> 00:03:20.660 and Daniel saw plenty as this message was given to him. 00:03:21.120 --> 00:03:25.480 Despite all that, it will come right in the end. 00:03:26.220 --> 00:03:28.120 The dead in Christ will be raised, 00:03:28.460 --> 00:03:31.620 as Paul says, and is foreshadowed here. 00:03:31.620 --> 00:03:37.219 And overarching it all is the message that's overarching the whole book of Daniel. 00:03:37.819 --> 00:03:39.740 God is in control. 00:03:40.640 --> 00:03:43.980 God is the person who is ultimately in control of our world. 00:03:44.219 --> 00:03:48.420 And if we trust him, we can have total confidence in him. 00:03:49.520 --> 00:03:54.259 So at a high level, then, we have some understanding of what's in the chapters. 00:03:55.259 --> 00:03:56.400 Going back to the election, 00:03:56.400 --> 00:04:00.700 there is also quite a lot of information that comes at us 00:04:00.700 --> 00:04:04.300 that we might find quite difficult to understand 00:04:04.300 --> 00:04:06.480 until someone explains it. 00:04:07.240 --> 00:04:08.200 So, for example, 00:04:08.700 --> 00:04:12.580 the SNP is lobbying for taxes to be increased in England. 00:04:12.759 --> 00:04:13.200 And you might say, 00:04:13.240 --> 00:04:15.700 well, what business is that of the SNP? 00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:17.840 Well, the reason they're doing it 00:04:17.840 --> 00:04:19.819 is that if taxes are raised in England 00:04:19.819 --> 00:04:22.839 and the money goes to fund the English NHS, 00:04:23.579 --> 00:04:26.800 then Scotland will benefit from Barnet consequentials. 00:04:27.379 --> 00:04:28.980 Some of you may understand what that means. 00:04:29.079 --> 00:04:30.259 Some of you probably don't. 00:04:30.540 --> 00:04:31.759 I suspect none of us would 00:04:31.759 --> 00:04:33.620 unless someone had explained it to us 00:04:33.620 --> 00:04:35.079 or we'd read about it. 00:04:36.180 --> 00:04:37.899 But it's factual information. 00:04:38.019 --> 00:04:40.800 The Barnet formula is something you can find 00:04:40.800 --> 00:04:42.159 and you can understand. 00:04:42.319 --> 00:04:44.500 You don't really have any controversy 00:04:44.500 --> 00:04:46.639 about what it is. 00:04:47.839 --> 00:04:49.579 And so when we come to these chapters in Daniel, 00:04:49.579 --> 00:04:52.180 there are some things that we wouldn't understand 00:04:52.180 --> 00:04:53.339 if we just read it. 00:04:53.919 --> 00:04:55.439 So most of chapter 11, 00:04:56.159 --> 00:05:00.019 it's a long series of events that are prophesied. 00:05:00.439 --> 00:05:02.519 And we very quickly, I think, get lost 00:05:02.519 --> 00:05:04.079 as we read through them. 00:05:04.979 --> 00:05:07.680 But if you have a good commentary or a study Bible 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:08.919 and you read that, 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:11.319 the commentary alongside Daniel 11, 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:13.620 it will explain to you exactly 00:05:13.620 --> 00:05:16.599 how Daniel 11 was fulfilled in history. 00:05:16.600 --> 00:05:19.680 It is a remarkably accurate account 00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:23.580 of what was at the time of Daniel in the future. 00:05:24.379 --> 00:05:26.840 And everyone, all the experts agree 00:05:26.840 --> 00:05:28.800 on the main details of that. 00:05:29.100 --> 00:05:30.360 Doesn't matter who you ask, 00:05:30.700 --> 00:05:32.420 they will agree about it. 00:05:33.439 --> 00:05:36.340 There's then a third level of information understanding 00:05:36.340 --> 00:05:37.840 to do with the general election. 00:05:37.839 --> 00:05:40.659 And that's areas where the experts 00:05:40.659 --> 00:05:42.979 don't necessarily agree. 00:05:43.699 --> 00:05:45.419 So all the parties are making promises. 00:05:45.659 --> 00:05:47.279 They're all saying we're fully costed. 00:05:47.639 --> 00:05:48.959 And some of the experts are saying, 00:05:49.099 --> 00:05:51.599 actually, you haven't taken account of this 00:05:51.599 --> 00:05:53.620 or this is a bit of a dodgy assumption. 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:56.679 And the experts may not necessarily agree 00:05:56.679 --> 00:05:58.000 on what's what. 00:05:59.319 --> 00:06:01.179 And that is one of the difficulties, 00:06:01.379 --> 00:06:02.579 I guess, for us as voters. 00:06:02.579 --> 00:06:04.180 We're given information. 00:06:04.759 --> 00:06:06.500 Some of it we can understand easily. 00:06:06.979 --> 00:06:09.300 Some of it we can understand with a bit of effort. 00:06:10.019 --> 00:06:12.259 But some of it we're going to just have to decide 00:06:12.259 --> 00:06:13.399 who we trust, 00:06:13.740 --> 00:06:15.139 which of the experts we think 00:06:15.139 --> 00:06:17.279 has potentially got it right. 00:06:18.419 --> 00:06:19.399 And that's the third element 00:06:19.399 --> 00:06:21.599 we find in these chapters. 00:06:22.279 --> 00:06:23.939 Graham highlighted it last week 00:06:23.939 --> 00:06:26.199 that there are all sorts of views 00:06:26.199 --> 00:06:28.299 of the prophecies that are made 00:06:28.300 --> 00:06:29.740 in the book of Daniel 00:06:29.740 --> 00:06:32.639 and the visions that he had. 00:06:33.280 --> 00:06:35.139 If you were listening to Graham last week 00:06:35.139 --> 00:06:36.439 and you listened to me today, 00:06:36.900 --> 00:06:38.800 you probably will see reasonably clearly 00:06:38.800 --> 00:06:40.400 that we don't agree 00:06:40.400 --> 00:06:42.680 in our understanding of some of the details. 00:06:42.740 --> 00:06:43.439 And that's fine. 00:06:44.180 --> 00:06:45.879 And we're not going to fall out over it. 00:06:46.139 --> 00:06:47.220 It's difficult stuff 00:06:47.220 --> 00:06:50.240 that people won't always see the same way. 00:06:50.900 --> 00:06:53.019 But where Graham and I definitely do agree 00:06:53.019 --> 00:06:56.160 is that while the detail is important, 00:06:56.160 --> 00:07:00.040 the really critical things are the big picture. 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:03.800 The big picture that God is in control of our world 00:07:03.800 --> 00:07:08.220 and that he will bring about his purposes in the future. 00:07:09.080 --> 00:07:10.440 And that's not up for debate. 00:07:10.600 --> 00:07:12.320 That is not disagreed on 00:07:12.320 --> 00:07:16.220 by those who hold to the truth of the Bible. 00:07:17.100 --> 00:07:18.840 God is in control. 00:07:20.160 --> 00:07:22.640 There's conflict in the heavens we'll think about. 00:07:23.120 --> 00:07:24.960 There's lots of chaos on earth, 00:07:24.959 --> 00:07:27.339 lots of things on earth we don't understand 00:07:27.339 --> 00:07:30.719 and we probably are quite distressed about. 00:07:31.699 --> 00:07:32.959 But God is in control. 00:07:33.099 --> 00:07:34.680 We can take comfort from that 00:07:34.680 --> 00:07:38.639 and from the fact that Jesus is coming again. 00:07:39.319 --> 00:07:40.539 Kingdoms will rise and fall. 00:07:40.659 --> 00:07:42.479 Evil beings will do their worst. 00:07:43.039 --> 00:07:44.699 But there's a glorious future 00:07:44.699 --> 00:07:47.500 for those who trust in God. 00:07:48.699 --> 00:07:50.399 Now, with that by way of introduction, 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:53.179 let's have a look at the passages. 00:07:53.180 --> 00:07:55.160 And we're only going to be able to go over 00:07:55.160 --> 00:07:56.639 very superficially this morning. 00:07:56.740 --> 00:07:58.560 There's a lot of detail here we won't cover. 00:07:58.939 --> 00:08:01.720 We'll try to get the main messages out of it. 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:05.960 So at the beginning of chapter 10, 00:08:06.400 --> 00:08:09.639 Daniel positions for us the time of what's happening. 00:08:09.720 --> 00:08:10.699 This is quite significant. 00:08:11.180 --> 00:08:11.500 He says, 00:08:11.560 --> 00:08:15.280 In the third year of Cyrus, king of Persia. 00:08:15.279 --> 00:08:17.639 Now, in terms of the timing of Daniel, 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:20.439 this means it is the last thing that happens 00:08:20.439 --> 00:08:22.619 in the book of Daniel chronologically 00:08:22.619 --> 00:08:25.439 as well as in the flow of the book. 00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:29.939 It is sometime after Daniel was put into the lion's den. 00:08:30.659 --> 00:08:31.719 He's an old man. 00:08:31.819 --> 00:08:34.659 He's probably in his mid-80s at this point. 00:08:35.659 --> 00:08:37.899 What's also significant about the timing 00:08:37.899 --> 00:08:40.699 is that when Cyrus became the king, 00:08:40.779 --> 00:08:43.919 when the Medes and Persians conquered Babylon, 00:08:44.779 --> 00:08:47.600 that set in train a return of the Jews 00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:49.279 back to Jerusalem. 00:08:50.039 --> 00:08:51.659 We read about it in the book of Ezra 00:08:51.659 --> 00:08:52.659 in the early chapters, 00:08:53.139 --> 00:08:54.720 how Cyrus decreed that the Jews 00:08:54.720 --> 00:08:57.220 were going to be able to go back to Jerusalem 00:08:57.220 --> 00:08:59.659 and to rebuild the temple. 00:09:00.279 --> 00:09:02.360 Archie, a few weeks ago, looking at chapter 6, 00:09:02.360 --> 00:09:04.319 talked about the yearning for home 00:09:04.320 --> 00:09:06.240 that the Jews had. 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:07.800 And that yearning for home 00:09:07.800 --> 00:09:09.480 seemed to be being realised 00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:11.660 as some of Daniel's compatriots 00:09:11.660 --> 00:09:13.800 went back to Judea. 00:09:14.900 --> 00:09:16.340 But then they had problems. 00:09:17.040 --> 00:09:17.879 There was opposition 00:09:17.879 --> 00:09:19.720 and the work stalled. 00:09:19.840 --> 00:09:20.460 It stopped. 00:09:21.780 --> 00:09:24.220 And it may be that the point we're at now 00:09:24.220 --> 00:09:26.160 is where Daniel heard about 00:09:26.160 --> 00:09:28.300 the difficulties in Jerusalem. 00:09:29.140 --> 00:09:30.880 Heard about the fact that the thing 00:09:30.880 --> 00:09:33.080 which undoubtedly caused him great joy 00:09:33.080 --> 00:09:34.780 that his people were able to return 00:09:34.780 --> 00:09:37.900 actually seemed to be going wrong. 00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:40.000 And perhaps that is the background 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:41.540 behind the whole of this section. 00:09:41.940 --> 00:09:43.560 It is God coming to Daniel 00:09:43.560 --> 00:09:44.400 and saying, 00:09:44.520 --> 00:09:46.680 yes, it looks as if things are going wrong, 00:09:47.060 --> 00:09:48.120 but don't worry, 00:09:48.520 --> 00:09:50.480 I am in control. 00:09:51.900 --> 00:09:54.520 Whether that's the right interpretation or not, 00:09:55.020 --> 00:09:57.320 as we look at the beginning of this passage, 00:09:57.320 --> 00:09:59.620 Daniel is in mourning. 00:09:59.620 --> 00:10:02.759 In verses 2 and 3, 00:10:03.060 --> 00:10:04.740 he says he mourned for three weeks, 00:10:04.840 --> 00:10:06.639 he went on a very restricted diet, 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:10.799 and he didn't use ointment in the heat 00:10:10.799 --> 00:10:13.480 to make things a bit more comfortable. 00:10:14.320 --> 00:10:16.080 He was also, as always, 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:17.779 engaged in prayer, 00:10:18.419 --> 00:10:20.259 and it looks as if he was particularly 00:10:20.259 --> 00:10:23.399 asking for understanding from God. 00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:24.879 Perhaps I say understanding 00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:27.299 for why things seem to have gone wrong 00:10:27.299 --> 00:10:28.480 in Jerusalem. 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:31.039 And as he's doing that, 00:10:31.399 --> 00:10:32.720 he has a vision. 00:10:33.679 --> 00:10:35.620 He sees a man dressed in linen. 00:10:36.279 --> 00:10:38.000 The man has a gold belt on. 00:10:38.059 --> 00:10:39.899 He has quite startling features 00:10:39.899 --> 00:10:42.399 that we read about in chapter 10. 00:10:42.779 --> 00:10:44.740 He has a voice that is thunderous. 00:10:45.320 --> 00:10:46.720 And as Daniel hears it, 00:10:46.919 --> 00:10:48.379 he falls down to the ground. 00:10:48.379 --> 00:10:51.200 He appears to go into a deep faint. 00:10:51.580 --> 00:10:52.360 The people who are with him 00:10:52.360 --> 00:10:53.700 don't see the vision, 00:10:54.060 --> 00:10:55.039 but they're terrified 00:10:55.039 --> 00:10:56.500 and they run away. 00:10:57.560 --> 00:10:58.440 There's a question then, 00:10:58.519 --> 00:11:00.200 well, who is it that Daniel sees 00:11:00.200 --> 00:11:00.980 in the vision? 00:11:01.080 --> 00:11:02.000 What is the vision 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:04.080 that Daniel sees? 00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:05.700 So we note 00:11:05.700 --> 00:11:07.399 that there are striking similarities 00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:09.220 between the description here 00:11:09.220 --> 00:11:11.120 of the man Daniel sees 00:11:11.120 --> 00:11:12.899 and the description of Jesus 00:11:12.899 --> 00:11:14.539 in Revelation chapter 1 00:11:14.539 --> 00:11:16.120 when John sees him 00:11:16.120 --> 00:11:17.480 in a vision there. 00:11:18.420 --> 00:11:19.379 The white robes, 00:11:19.740 --> 00:11:20.539 the belt, 00:11:20.539 --> 00:11:22.120 the striking features, 00:11:22.620 --> 00:11:24.059 the sound of his voice, 00:11:24.480 --> 00:11:26.019 and the fact that in Revelation 00:11:26.019 --> 00:11:27.319 John falls at his feet 00:11:27.319 --> 00:11:28.099 as if dead 00:11:28.099 --> 00:11:29.819 and Daniel here also 00:11:29.819 --> 00:11:31.779 falls to the ground. 00:11:32.740 --> 00:11:33.579 So it's possible 00:11:33.579 --> 00:11:36.620 this could be an appearance 00:11:36.620 --> 00:11:37.899 of the Lord Jesus 00:11:37.899 --> 00:11:40.139 before his incarnation. 00:11:40.299 --> 00:11:41.740 Several points in the Old Testament 00:11:41.740 --> 00:11:42.959 where that's a possibility, 00:11:43.439 --> 00:11:45.219 I think it is here. 00:11:46.579 --> 00:11:48.179 So John falls into this deep faint. 00:11:48.179 --> 00:11:49.159 He falls asleep 00:11:49.159 --> 00:11:50.439 and he's wakened 00:11:50.439 --> 00:11:52.479 by a hand touching him. 00:11:53.319 --> 00:11:54.299 And he's then given 00:11:54.299 --> 00:11:55.879 a message by this person 00:11:55.879 --> 00:11:58.959 which again is quite disturbing. 00:11:59.959 --> 00:12:01.059 So who is it that's talking 00:12:01.059 --> 00:12:02.439 to Daniel here? 00:12:02.500 --> 00:12:03.459 Well, you might naturally think 00:12:03.459 --> 00:12:04.419 it's the same person 00:12:04.419 --> 00:12:05.919 as in the earlier verses 00:12:05.919 --> 00:12:07.120 and it might be. 00:12:08.139 --> 00:12:08.779 But it's noticeable 00:12:08.779 --> 00:12:10.079 as we read these verses 00:12:10.079 --> 00:12:11.319 that the person 00:12:11.319 --> 00:12:12.419 who's speaking to Daniel 00:12:12.419 --> 00:12:14.519 talks about how he needed help 00:12:14.519 --> 00:12:15.120 from Michael. 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:16.500 Michael, one of the leaders 00:12:16.500 --> 00:12:17.100 of the angel, 00:12:17.200 --> 00:12:18.139 the archangel Michael, 00:12:18.580 --> 00:12:19.279 whoever it was, 00:12:19.379 --> 00:12:20.519 needed help from Daniel 00:12:20.519 --> 00:12:23.679 to overcome a spiritual being. 00:12:24.299 --> 00:12:25.519 And that doesn't tie in, 00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:25.919 does it, 00:12:26.179 --> 00:12:27.840 with it being the Lord Jesus, 00:12:28.019 --> 00:12:29.659 the God incarnate, 00:12:29.720 --> 00:12:31.840 the one who is all-powerful. 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:33.820 So it may well be 00:12:33.820 --> 00:12:35.340 the person we're looking at here 00:12:35.340 --> 00:12:36.779 is not the Lord Jesus 00:12:36.779 --> 00:12:38.299 but is an angel 00:12:38.299 --> 00:12:39.960 come to bring the message 00:12:39.960 --> 00:12:41.399 to Daniel. 00:12:41.399 --> 00:12:43.379 So possibly we're looking 00:12:43.379 --> 00:12:44.679 at two separate people. 00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:46.179 The one the Lord Jesus 00:12:46.179 --> 00:12:47.279 in the earlier verses, 00:12:47.840 --> 00:12:48.959 the other an angel 00:12:48.959 --> 00:12:50.379 in the later verses 00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:51.539 and in support of that 00:12:51.539 --> 00:12:52.360 the earlier verses 00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:53.679 clearly talk about a vision. 00:12:54.340 --> 00:12:55.139 The later verses 00:12:55.139 --> 00:12:56.600 clearly are quite physical 00:12:56.600 --> 00:12:57.439 because the person 00:12:57.439 --> 00:12:59.319 touches Daniel three times 00:12:59.319 --> 00:13:00.500 and so does someone 00:13:00.500 --> 00:13:02.699 who is physically there with them. 00:13:03.360 --> 00:13:05.059 I'll leave that tentatively with you 00:13:05.059 --> 00:13:06.600 if you're so inclined 00:13:06.600 --> 00:13:07.559 you can go away 00:13:07.559 --> 00:13:09.100 and have a think about it. 00:13:09.100 --> 00:13:11.740 But the purpose of the messenger 00:13:11.740 --> 00:13:13.159 is to reassure Daniel. 00:13:13.940 --> 00:13:15.240 And he does it by the way 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:16.240 he touches him 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:18.320 and gives him back his strength. 00:13:18.820 --> 00:13:20.379 He also does it by twice 00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:22.100 calling him highly esteemed. 00:13:23.220 --> 00:13:24.620 So Daniel very quickly learns 00:13:24.620 --> 00:13:25.560 this isn't someone 00:13:25.560 --> 00:13:26.840 who's come to judge him 00:13:26.840 --> 00:13:28.399 or to condemn him. 00:13:28.680 --> 00:13:29.740 It's someone who's come 00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:30.560 to encourage 00:13:30.560 --> 00:13:32.320 and to raise him up. 00:13:33.580 --> 00:13:34.720 But the message 00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:37.560 that the angel of it is that gives 00:13:37.559 --> 00:13:40.539 is actually very difficult 00:13:40.539 --> 00:13:44.099 because it's a message 00:13:44.099 --> 00:13:48.919 about a battle in the heavens 00:13:48.919 --> 00:13:51.439 a conflict in the heavens. 00:13:52.039 --> 00:13:53.619 The angel talks about the fact 00:13:53.619 --> 00:13:54.979 that when Daniel started praying 00:13:54.979 --> 00:13:56.059 21 days ago 00:13:56.059 --> 00:13:57.039 he wanted to come 00:13:57.039 --> 00:13:58.679 and to reassure him then 00:13:58.679 --> 00:14:00.239 but he was held up 00:14:00.239 --> 00:14:02.739 by the king of Persia. 00:14:03.439 --> 00:14:04.539 He later talks about 00:14:04.539 --> 00:14:06.740 the king of Greece. 00:14:07.339 --> 00:14:08.059 And this brings us 00:14:08.059 --> 00:14:08.699 into territory 00:14:08.699 --> 00:14:09.740 I think most of us 00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:11.759 are fairly uncomfortable about 00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:14.419 if we think about it at all. 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:17.599 That there are heavenly beings 00:14:17.599 --> 00:14:19.379 who have a real interest 00:14:19.379 --> 00:14:20.719 in this world. 00:14:21.559 --> 00:14:22.559 Spiritual powers 00:14:22.559 --> 00:14:24.980 both good and evil. 00:14:25.860 --> 00:14:27.079 Here it is at the level 00:14:27.079 --> 00:14:28.079 of nations. 00:14:28.539 --> 00:14:30.039 It is kind of patron angels 00:14:30.039 --> 00:14:30.620 if you like 00:14:30.620 --> 00:14:32.079 influencing what happens 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:33.240 in the nations 00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:34.520 of our world. 00:14:35.480 --> 00:14:36.220 It's also true 00:14:36.220 --> 00:14:37.220 that the Bible would teach 00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:38.720 that there are spiritual powers 00:14:38.720 --> 00:14:39.620 taking an interest 00:14:39.620 --> 00:14:41.220 in us individually. 00:14:42.400 --> 00:14:44.460 Maybe the most influential book 00:14:44.460 --> 00:14:44.840 on this 00:14:44.840 --> 00:14:46.080 in making people aware 00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:47.920 of spiritual powers 00:14:47.920 --> 00:14:49.160 was C.S. Lewis' 00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:50.660 Screwtape Letters. 00:14:50.740 --> 00:14:51.500 Quite old now 00:14:51.500 --> 00:14:52.560 but many of you I'm sure 00:14:52.560 --> 00:14:53.940 have come across it. 00:14:54.879 --> 00:14:55.759 Screwtape Letters 00:14:55.759 --> 00:14:57.440 are a series of letters 00:14:57.440 --> 00:14:58.840 from a senior demon 00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:00.200 to a junior tempter 00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:01.520 about their work 00:15:01.520 --> 00:15:02.520 in the life of someone 00:15:02.520 --> 00:15:03.360 who's just called 00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:04.200 the patient. 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:06.060 They're trying to 00:15:06.060 --> 00:15:07.660 divert this person 00:15:07.660 --> 00:15:08.700 away from God 00:15:08.700 --> 00:15:10.080 and to tempt him 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:12.360 in all sorts of ways. 00:15:13.160 --> 00:15:14.140 Now it's a work of fiction. 00:15:14.640 --> 00:15:15.440 We're not to take 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:17.220 what C.S. Lewis writes literally 00:15:17.220 --> 00:15:19.160 but he is trying both 00:15:19.160 --> 00:15:20.700 to help us 00:15:20.700 --> 00:15:21.420 to understand 00:15:21.420 --> 00:15:22.240 the subtlety 00:15:22.240 --> 00:15:23.660 of much of the temptation 00:15:23.660 --> 00:15:24.580 we face 00:15:24.580 --> 00:15:26.360 and to bring us 00:15:26.360 --> 00:15:27.340 to a realisation 00:15:27.340 --> 00:15:28.740 of the existence 00:15:28.740 --> 00:15:30.720 of spiritual beings. 00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:32.220 He says this 00:15:32.220 --> 00:15:33.100 in his introduction. 00:15:34.360 --> 00:15:35.500 There are two equal 00:15:35.500 --> 00:15:36.660 and opposite errors 00:15:36.660 --> 00:15:37.899 into which our race 00:15:37.899 --> 00:15:39.399 can fall about the devils. 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:41.399 One is to disbelieve 00:15:41.399 --> 00:15:42.220 in their existence. 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:44.240 The other is to believe 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:45.399 and to feel an excessive 00:15:45.399 --> 00:15:47.060 and unhealthy interest 00:15:47.060 --> 00:15:47.540 in them. 00:15:48.620 --> 00:15:49.399 They themselves 00:15:49.399 --> 00:15:50.860 are equally pleased 00:15:50.860 --> 00:15:53.060 by both errors. 00:15:53.940 --> 00:15:54.580 So on the one hand 00:15:54.580 --> 00:15:55.440 we have a lot of people 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:56.680 who would find this 00:15:56.680 --> 00:15:57.620 too difficult teaching 00:15:57.620 --> 00:15:58.200 to understand 00:15:58.200 --> 00:15:58.720 and say no, 00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:00.060 can't believe that. 00:16:00.620 --> 00:16:01.080 And then we have 00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:02.000 a rather smaller group 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:02.560 of people 00:16:02.560 --> 00:16:03.800 who take an excessive 00:16:03.800 --> 00:16:05.860 interest in demonic activity 00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:07.820 and to become 00:16:07.820 --> 00:16:09.800 really obsessed 00:16:09.800 --> 00:16:11.720 as they think about it. 00:16:12.680 --> 00:16:13.560 C.S. Lewis says 00:16:13.560 --> 00:16:15.660 both errors are wrong. 00:16:15.760 --> 00:16:16.440 We need to take 00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:18.000 a balanced view of this 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:19.300 to understand 00:16:19.300 --> 00:16:20.420 that there are 00:16:20.420 --> 00:16:21.660 powers out there 00:16:21.660 --> 00:16:22.760 that we don't 00:16:22.760 --> 00:16:24.540 understand fully. 00:16:24.539 --> 00:16:26.459 but not to become 00:16:26.459 --> 00:16:27.919 so caught up with them 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:29.539 that we lose focus 00:16:29.539 --> 00:16:30.899 on the main thing 00:16:30.899 --> 00:16:32.399 which is our relationship 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:34.059 with the Lord Jesus. 00:16:35.899 --> 00:16:37.159 Paul covers this 00:16:37.159 --> 00:16:38.399 in Ephesians. 00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:39.799 He says, 00:16:39.939 --> 00:16:40.419 our struggle 00:16:40.419 --> 00:16:41.620 is not 00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:43.360 against fresh and blood 00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:45.179 but against the rulers, 00:16:45.819 --> 00:16:47.559 against the authorities, 00:16:48.719 --> 00:16:49.319 against, 00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:50.299 sorry, 00:16:50.599 --> 00:16:51.439 I'm struggling to read up there, 00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:52.319 I'll read back here, 00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:53.300 against the powers 00:16:53.300 --> 00:16:54.280 of this dark world 00:16:54.280 --> 00:16:55.940 and against the spiritual 00:16:55.940 --> 00:16:57.280 forces of evil 00:16:57.280 --> 00:16:59.920 in the heavenly realms. 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:01.300 And he then goes on 00:17:01.300 --> 00:17:02.300 to encourage us 00:17:02.300 --> 00:17:03.220 to put on 00:17:03.220 --> 00:17:04.700 the full armour of God 00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:06.900 so that when the day comes 00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:07.799 we'll be able 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:09.039 to stand our ground 00:17:09.039 --> 00:17:10.460 and after doing 00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:11.160 everything 00:17:11.160 --> 00:17:12.519 to stand. 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:14.100 Paul's advice there 00:17:14.100 --> 00:17:15.360 is very important. 00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:17.580 We need to be aware 00:17:17.580 --> 00:17:18.420 that there are 00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:19.299 evil forces 00:17:19.299 --> 00:17:20.500 out there. 00:17:20.500 --> 00:17:22.180 But we also need 00:17:22.180 --> 00:17:22.579 to know 00:17:22.579 --> 00:17:23.099 that the way 00:17:23.099 --> 00:17:24.079 to combat them 00:17:24.079 --> 00:17:25.599 is not by becoming 00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:27.220 excessively interested 00:17:27.220 --> 00:17:28.299 in them 00:17:28.299 --> 00:17:29.799 but to put on 00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:30.519 ourselves 00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:31.660 the armour 00:17:31.660 --> 00:17:32.900 of God. 00:17:33.319 --> 00:17:33.680 Truth, 00:17:34.299 --> 00:17:34.799 righteousness, 00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:36.380 gospel readiness, 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:37.079 faith, 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:38.039 salvation, 00:17:38.819 --> 00:17:39.539 God's word. 00:17:40.339 --> 00:17:41.460 And alongside that, 00:17:41.559 --> 00:17:42.200 Paul says, 00:17:42.359 --> 00:17:43.819 to support one another 00:17:43.819 --> 00:17:44.980 in prayer. 00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:46.460 We are all engaged 00:17:46.460 --> 00:17:47.420 in a spiritual battle. 00:17:47.420 --> 00:17:48.420 We all face temptations 00:17:48.420 --> 00:17:50.380 in our lives. 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:51.660 It's important 00:17:51.660 --> 00:17:52.700 that we individually 00:17:52.700 --> 00:17:54.080 put on the armour 00:17:54.080 --> 00:17:55.740 that Paul talks about 00:17:55.740 --> 00:17:57.660 and that we collectively 00:17:57.660 --> 00:17:58.960 pray for one another 00:17:58.960 --> 00:18:00.220 and recognise 00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:00.920 we are all 00:18:00.920 --> 00:18:01.759 in that battle. 00:18:02.259 --> 00:18:03.300 We're not able 00:18:03.300 --> 00:18:04.660 to triumph by ourselves. 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:05.519 We need to be much 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:06.759 in prayer for one another 00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:08.120 that God 00:18:08.120 --> 00:18:09.420 will support us 00:18:09.420 --> 00:18:10.160 in it. 00:18:10.580 --> 00:18:11.200 There's lots more 00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:12.080 we could say about that. 00:18:12.140 --> 00:18:12.900 We haven't got time 00:18:12.900 --> 00:18:13.500 this morning 00:18:13.500 --> 00:18:14.340 but I hope 00:18:14.340 --> 00:18:15.800 that is some help. 00:18:16.500 --> 00:18:17.160 Let's move on 00:18:17.160 --> 00:18:17.920 to chapter 11. 00:18:18.060 --> 00:18:19.519 Chapter 11 is very long 00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:20.660 and as I said 00:18:20.660 --> 00:18:22.640 it is very complicated. 00:18:23.880 --> 00:18:25.140 The messenger here 00:18:25.140 --> 00:18:25.779 is looking 00:18:25.779 --> 00:18:26.800 into the future 00:18:26.800 --> 00:18:28.540 and he's making 00:18:28.540 --> 00:18:29.640 prophecies. 00:18:30.300 --> 00:18:30.740 We're not going 00:18:30.740 --> 00:18:31.220 to go through it 00:18:31.220 --> 00:18:31.880 in great detail. 00:18:32.040 --> 00:18:32.600 I'll summarise 00:18:32.600 --> 00:18:34.360 the passage for you 00:18:34.360 --> 00:18:35.600 but let me just make 00:18:35.600 --> 00:18:37.220 two general comments 00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:37.680 first. 00:18:38.560 --> 00:18:39.580 The first thing is 00:18:39.580 --> 00:18:40.180 as I've said 00:18:40.180 --> 00:18:41.340 this is a very 00:18:41.340 --> 00:18:42.900 accurate prophecy. 00:18:43.640 --> 00:18:44.440 What we read 00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:45.220 about here 00:18:45.220 --> 00:18:46.019 which was given 00:18:46.019 --> 00:18:46.660 to Daniel 00:18:46.660 --> 00:18:47.579 is in the future 00:18:47.579 --> 00:18:48.079 then 00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:49.299 but we can look 00:18:49.299 --> 00:18:49.940 back now 00:18:49.940 --> 00:18:50.380 if we have 00:18:50.380 --> 00:18:50.880 the historic 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:51.539 information 00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:53.000 and we can see 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:53.680 that almost 00:18:53.680 --> 00:18:54.279 all of it 00:18:54.279 --> 00:18:54.839 until we get 00:18:54.839 --> 00:18:55.600 right to the end 00:18:55.600 --> 00:18:56.700 almost all of it 00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:58.019 has been fulfilled 00:18:58.019 --> 00:18:59.460 very accurately 00:18:59.460 --> 00:19:00.759 in history. 00:19:01.079 --> 00:19:01.759 So much so 00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:02.660 that it's quite 00:19:02.660 --> 00:19:03.400 often suggested 00:19:03.400 --> 00:19:04.059 well this must 00:19:04.059 --> 00:19:04.620 have been written 00:19:04.620 --> 00:19:05.500 after the event 00:19:05.500 --> 00:19:06.960 it is so accurate. 00:19:07.559 --> 00:19:08.259 I don't believe 00:19:08.259 --> 00:19:09.079 that's the case. 00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:10.180 Our God knows 00:19:10.180 --> 00:19:10.700 the future 00:19:10.700 --> 00:19:11.759 as well as the past 00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:12.740 and he is well 00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:13.779 able to bring 00:19:13.779 --> 00:19:14.480 this kind of 00:19:14.480 --> 00:19:15.779 prophecy to us. 00:19:15.839 --> 00:19:16.359 But we have here 00:19:16.359 --> 00:19:17.299 a very accurate 00:19:17.299 --> 00:19:18.559 account of what 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:20.019 happened historically. 00:19:21.099 --> 00:19:21.759 But then the second 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:22.559 point is that 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:23.420 this is not just 00:19:23.420 --> 00:19:24.259 a history lesson 00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:24.900 for us. 00:19:25.539 --> 00:19:26.279 Some people would 00:19:26.279 --> 00:19:26.879 find it really 00:19:26.879 --> 00:19:27.759 interesting perhaps 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:28.500 some people would 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:29.200 find it deadly 00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:30.299 boring to go 00:19:30.299 --> 00:19:31.579 through the history. 00:19:32.359 --> 00:19:33.079 But that's not 00:19:33.079 --> 00:19:34.059 the purpose of what 00:19:34.059 --> 00:19:34.599 the messenger 00:19:34.599 --> 00:19:35.460 is saying here. 00:19:36.039 --> 00:19:37.039 The purpose is 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:37.859 to give Daniel 00:19:37.859 --> 00:19:38.480 and those who 00:19:38.480 --> 00:19:39.299 would follow him 00:19:39.299 --> 00:19:41.420 confidence in God. 00:19:41.759 --> 00:19:42.740 That God does 00:19:42.740 --> 00:19:43.519 know the end 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:44.599 from the beginning. 00:19:45.440 --> 00:19:46.339 That what happens 00:19:46.339 --> 00:19:48.339 will be as God 00:19:48.339 --> 00:19:49.400 allows it. 00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:50.379 And then as we 00:19:50.379 --> 00:19:51.539 get into chapter 12 00:19:51.539 --> 00:19:52.799 that ultimately 00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:53.680 God will be 00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:54.259 triumphant 00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:55.759 and his people 00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:57.740 will be vindicated. 00:19:58.619 --> 00:19:59.119 And I suspect 00:19:59.119 --> 00:20:00.059 that people over 00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:01.220 the few hundred 00:20:01.220 --> 00:20:02.480 years after Daniel 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:03.339 as they were 00:20:03.339 --> 00:20:04.599 facing oppression 00:20:04.599 --> 00:20:05.779 from all sides 00:20:05.779 --> 00:20:07.279 as Israel was 00:20:07.279 --> 00:20:08.740 constantly under 00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:09.279 pressure 00:20:09.279 --> 00:20:10.519 they would be 00:20:10.519 --> 00:20:11.220 able to look 00:20:11.220 --> 00:20:12.440 at these prophecies 00:20:12.440 --> 00:20:12.860 here. 00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:13.720 And they could 00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:14.180 say yes 00:20:14.180 --> 00:20:14.799 we look in the 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:15.420 past and we 00:20:15.420 --> 00:20:15.839 see these 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:16.180 have been 00:20:16.180 --> 00:20:16.600 fulfilled 00:20:16.600 --> 00:20:17.279 perfectly 00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:18.660 by God. 00:20:19.100 --> 00:20:19.720 And so we 00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:19.980 can have 00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:20.680 confidence in 00:20:20.680 --> 00:20:21.240 the future 00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:22.220 that things 00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:22.839 will happen 00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:23.960 as God 00:20:23.960 --> 00:20:24.960 has decreed 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:25.200 it. 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:27.079 So let's 00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:27.460 just very 00:20:27.460 --> 00:20:28.140 briefly talk 00:20:28.140 --> 00:20:28.500 through the 00:20:28.500 --> 00:20:28.819 chapter. 00:20:28.960 --> 00:20:29.420 The detail 00:20:29.420 --> 00:20:30.319 is interesting 00:20:30.319 --> 00:20:30.980 for some 00:20:30.980 --> 00:20:31.960 but it's 00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:32.519 possibly less 00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:33.680 important than 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:34.440 the big picture. 00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:34.940 So the bit 00:20:34.940 --> 00:20:35.740 that we read 00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:36.400 at the beginning 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:39.180 begins with 00:20:39.180 --> 00:20:39.920 Cyrus who 00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:40.320 was the king 00:20:40.320 --> 00:20:40.800 of Persia 00:20:40.800 --> 00:20:41.600 at that time 00:20:41.600 --> 00:20:42.380 and then 00:20:42.380 --> 00:20:42.900 says there 00:20:42.900 --> 00:20:43.200 will be 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:43.940 four kings 00:20:43.940 --> 00:20:44.320 that will 00:20:44.320 --> 00:20:44.980 follow him 00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:45.440 over a 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:45.860 period of 00:20:45.860 --> 00:20:46.960 about 200 00:20:46.960 --> 00:20:47.560 years. 00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:48.820 The fourth 00:20:48.820 --> 00:20:49.560 of these kings 00:20:49.560 --> 00:20:50.080 is the one 00:20:50.080 --> 00:20:50.519 who is going 00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:51.180 to be richest 00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:51.880 and most 00:20:51.880 --> 00:20:52.580 influential 00:20:52.580 --> 00:20:53.759 and that's 00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:54.040 generally 00:20:54.040 --> 00:20:55.019 identified as 00:20:55.019 --> 00:20:55.519 Xerxes. 00:20:56.240 --> 00:20:56.960 Xerxes you 00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:57.500 may remember 00:20:57.500 --> 00:20:58.040 as the king 00:20:58.040 --> 00:20:58.420 in the book 00:20:58.420 --> 00:20:58.940 of Esther 00:20:58.940 --> 00:21:01.560 that Esther 00:21:01.560 --> 00:21:02.400 and Mordecai 00:21:02.400 --> 00:21:03.880 have dealings 00:21:03.880 --> 00:21:04.200 with. 00:21:05.140 --> 00:21:05.680 He wasn't 00:21:05.680 --> 00:21:06.140 the last 00:21:06.140 --> 00:21:06.540 king of 00:21:06.540 --> 00:21:07.040 Persia 00:21:07.040 --> 00:21:07.880 but it 00:21:07.880 --> 00:21:08.180 was the 00:21:08.180 --> 00:21:08.680 time of 00:21:08.680 --> 00:21:09.120 Xerxes 00:21:09.120 --> 00:21:10.000 that the 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:10.560 influence 00:21:10.560 --> 00:21:11.000 and power 00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:11.220 of the 00:21:11.220 --> 00:21:11.520 Persian 00:21:11.520 --> 00:21:12.020 empire 00:21:12.020 --> 00:21:13.520 started to 00:21:13.520 --> 00:21:13.900 wane. 00:21:15.040 --> 00:21:15.420 Xerxes 00:21:15.420 --> 00:21:15.980 went to 00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:16.700 war against 00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:17.140 Greece 00:21:17.140 --> 00:21:17.840 and he 00:21:17.840 --> 00:21:18.420 was soundly 00:21:18.420 --> 00:21:18.800 defeated 00:21:18.800 --> 00:21:19.160 at the 00:21:19.160 --> 00:21:19.640 battle of 00:21:19.640 --> 00:21:20.200 Salamis 00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:21.120 and the 00:21:21.120 --> 00:21:21.520 decline 00:21:21.520 --> 00:21:21.820 of the 00:21:21.820 --> 00:21:22.120 Persian 00:21:22.120 --> 00:21:22.660 empire 00:21:22.660 --> 00:21:23.120 can 00:21:23.120 --> 00:21:23.580 probably 00:21:23.580 --> 00:21:23.860 be 00:21:23.860 --> 00:21:24.160 dated 00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:24.900 from 00:21:24.900 --> 00:21:25.340 that. 00:21:27.260 --> 00:21:27.940 We 00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:28.460 then have 00:21:28.460 --> 00:21:29.100 in verse 00:21:29.100 --> 00:21:29.600 three 00:21:29.600 --> 00:21:30.540 we have 00:21:30.540 --> 00:21:31.220 a mighty 00:21:31.220 --> 00:21:31.680 king 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.280 who will 00:21:32.280 --> 00:21:32.860 arise 00:21:32.859 --> 00:21:33.740 and that 00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:34.240 king is 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:34.939 Alexander 00:21:34.939 --> 00:21:35.979 the Great. 00:21:36.659 --> 00:21:37.399 The king 00:21:37.399 --> 00:21:38.399 who in 00:21:38.399 --> 00:21:38.819 the early 00:21:38.819 --> 00:21:39.500 30s 00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:40.439 looked around 00:21:40.439 --> 00:21:40.879 him and 00:21:40.879 --> 00:21:41.779 wept as 00:21:41.779 --> 00:21:42.139 he said 00:21:42.139 --> 00:21:42.439 there are 00:21:42.439 --> 00:21:42.979 no more 00:21:42.979 --> 00:21:43.679 worlds for 00:21:43.679 --> 00:21:44.519 me to 00:21:44.519 --> 00:21:45.019 conquer. 00:21:45.699 --> 00:21:46.039 An 00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:46.659 enormously 00:21:46.659 --> 00:21:47.459 successful 00:21:47.459 --> 00:21:48.019 leader 00:21:48.019 --> 00:21:49.319 and general 00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:50.319 who then 00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:50.899 died at 00:21:50.899 --> 00:21:51.379 the age 00:21:51.379 --> 00:21:52.179 of just 00:21:52.179 --> 00:21:52.979 32. 00:21:54.379 --> 00:21:54.799 When 00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:55.259 Alexander 00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:56.119 died after 00:21:56.119 --> 00:21:56.639 a little 00:21:56.639 --> 00:21:56.919 bit of 00:21:56.919 --> 00:21:57.679 infighting 00:21:57.679 --> 00:21:58.279 his 00:21:58.279 --> 00:21:58.599 kingdom 00:21:58.599 --> 00:21:58.839 was 00:21:58.839 --> 00:21:59.319 essentially 00:21:59.319 --> 00:21:59.819 divided 00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:00.419 into 00:22:00.419 --> 00:22:01.299 four. 00:22:01.579 --> 00:22:01.979 Four 00:22:01.979 --> 00:22:02.299 different 00:22:02.299 --> 00:22:02.779 areas 00:22:02.779 --> 00:22:03.099 which 00:22:03.099 --> 00:22:03.259 are 00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:03.879 represented 00:22:03.879 --> 00:22:04.279 by 00:22:04.279 --> 00:22:04.500 the 00:22:04.500 --> 00:22:04.940 points 00:22:04.940 --> 00:22:05.619 of 00:22:05.619 --> 00:22:06.099 the 00:22:06.099 --> 00:22:06.480 compass. 00:22:08.420 --> 00:22:08.639 Now 00:22:08.639 --> 00:22:08.859 the 00:22:08.859 --> 00:22:09.519 key 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:10.639 kingdoms 00:22:10.639 --> 00:22:10.980 that 00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:11.240 are 00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:12.180 referred 00:22:12.180 --> 00:22:12.460 to 00:22:12.460 --> 00:22:12.579 in 00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:12.799 this 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:13.319 passage 00:22:13.319 --> 00:22:13.539 are 00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:13.720 what 00:22:13.720 --> 00:22:13.859 are 00:22:13.859 --> 00:22:14.099 called 00:22:14.099 --> 00:22:14.279 the 00:22:14.279 --> 00:22:14.480 king 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:14.639 of 00:22:14.639 --> 00:22:14.799 the 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:15.200 north 00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:15.759 and 00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:15.920 the 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:16.099 king 00:22:16.099 --> 00:22:16.240 of 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:16.420 the 00:22:16.420 --> 00:22:16.799 south. 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:18.019 The 00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:18.180 king 00:22:18.180 --> 00:22:18.339 of 00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:18.519 the 00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:18.960 north 00:22:18.960 --> 00:22:19.839 is 00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:20.359 Syria. 00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:21.079 It 00:22:21.079 --> 00:22:21.299 is 00:22:21.299 --> 00:22:21.519 the 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:22.160 Seleucian 00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:22.720 empire 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:23.079 in 00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:23.440 Syria. 00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:24.240 The 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:24.420 king 00:22:24.420 --> 00:22:24.559 of 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:24.720 the 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:24.960 south 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:25.200 is 00:22:25.200 --> 00:22:25.700 Egypt. 00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:26.180 It 00:22:26.180 --> 00:22:26.339 is 00:22:26.339 --> 00:22:26.539 the 00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:27.200 Ptolemaean 00:22:27.200 --> 00:22:28.200 empire. 00:22:28.859 --> 00:22:29.160 And 00:22:29.160 --> 00:22:29.339 these 00:22:29.339 --> 00:22:29.539 two 00:22:29.539 --> 00:22:29.960 empires 00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:30.299 for a 00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:30.559 long 00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:31.160 period 00:22:31.160 --> 00:22:31.840 were in 00:22:31.840 --> 00:22:32.140 battle 00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:32.400 with 00:22:32.400 --> 00:22:32.640 each 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:33.000 other 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:33.460 for 00:22:33.460 --> 00:22:34.080 control 00:22:34.080 --> 00:22:34.600 of 00:22:34.600 --> 00:22:34.860 that 00:22:34.860 --> 00:22:35.360 area 00:22:35.360 --> 00:22:36.000 of 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:36.180 the 00:22:36.180 --> 00:22:36.540 world. 00:22:37.040 --> 00:22:37.200 And 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:37.480 you can 00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:37.800 if you're 00:22:37.800 --> 00:22:38.040 so 00:22:38.040 --> 00:22:38.560 inclined 00:22:38.560 --> 00:22:39.460 read 00:22:39.460 --> 00:22:39.759 through 00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:40.019 from 00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:40.519 verse 4 00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:40.700 to 00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:41.340 verse 20 00:22:41.340 --> 00:22:41.640 and if 00:22:41.640 --> 00:22:42.120 you've 00:22:42.120 --> 00:22:42.400 got a 00:22:42.400 --> 00:22:42.600 comment 00:22:42.600 --> 00:22:42.880 you can 00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:43.180 see the 00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:43.620 historical 00:22:43.620 --> 00:22:44.380 side 00:22:44.380 --> 00:22:44.560 of 00:22:44.560 --> 00:22:44.900 that. 00:22:45.300 --> 00:22:45.480 But 00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:45.680 there's 00:22:45.680 --> 00:22:45.960 a lot 00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:46.140 of 00:22:46.140 --> 00:22:46.519 plotting, 00:22:46.940 --> 00:22:47.300 there's 00:22:47.300 --> 00:22:47.560 a lot 00:22:47.560 --> 00:22:47.720 of 00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:48.240 treachery, 00:22:48.320 --> 00:22:48.440 there's 00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:48.700 a lot 00:22:48.700 --> 00:22:48.860 of 00:22:48.860 --> 00:22:49.279 warfare 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:49.680 going 00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:50.080 on. 00:22:50.660 --> 00:22:50.759 And 00:22:50.759 --> 00:22:51.000 poor 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:51.259 little 00:22:51.259 --> 00:22:51.560 Israel 00:22:51.560 --> 00:22:51.779 is 00:22:51.779 --> 00:22:52.040 caught 00:22:52.040 --> 00:22:52.220 in 00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:52.340 the 00:22:52.340 --> 00:22:52.600 middle. 00:22:53.160 --> 00:22:53.460 Between 00:22:53.460 --> 00:22:53.840 Syria 00:22:53.840 --> 00:22:54.060 and 00:22:54.060 --> 00:22:54.519 Egypt 00:22:54.519 --> 00:22:55.000 it 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:55.140 is 00:22:55.140 --> 00:22:55.259 the 00:22:55.259 --> 00:22:55.400 one 00:22:55.400 --> 00:22:55.579 that's 00:22:55.579 --> 00:22:55.960 kind of 00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:56.319 squeezed 00:22:56.319 --> 00:22:56.579 in 00:22:56.579 --> 00:22:56.900 there 00:22:56.900 --> 00:22:57.519 and 00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:57.779 never 00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:58.079 seems 00:22:58.079 --> 00:22:58.259 to 00:22:58.259 --> 00:22:58.440 get 00:22:58.440 --> 00:22:58.779 on 00:22:58.779 --> 00:22:59.420 very 00:22:59.420 --> 00:22:59.819 well. 00:23:01.500 --> 00:23:01.700 You 00:23:01.700 --> 00:23:01.879 have 00:23:01.879 --> 00:23:02.240 quite a 00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:02.440 number 00:23:02.440 --> 00:23:02.599 of 00:23:02.599 --> 00:23:02.920 verses 00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:03.640 that 00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:03.920 are 00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:04.319 about 00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:04.960 just 00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:05.539 one 00:23:05.539 --> 00:23:06.259 king 00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:06.960 who 00:23:06.960 --> 00:23:07.099 is 00:23:07.099 --> 00:23:07.519 described 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:07.740 in 00:23:07.740 --> 00:23:07.940 verse 00:23:07.940 --> 00:23:08.460 21 00:23:08.460 --> 00:23:09.000 as 00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:09.220 a 00:23:09.220 --> 00:23:10.019 contemptible 00:23:10.019 --> 00:23:10.879 person. 00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:11.379 We met 00:23:11.379 --> 00:23:11.819 him before 00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:12.299 in chapter 00:23:12.299 --> 00:23:12.720 8. 00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:13.680 His name 00:23:13.680 --> 00:23:13.920 is 00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:14.759 Antiochus 00:23:14.759 --> 00:23:15.819 Epiphanes. 00:23:16.500 --> 00:23:16.879 And he 00:23:16.879 --> 00:23:17.519 was a 00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:17.920 Syrian 00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:18.339 ruler 00:23:18.339 --> 00:23:19.200 who was 00:23:19.200 --> 00:23:20.019 very cruel, 00:23:20.619 --> 00:23:21.319 who was 00:23:21.319 --> 00:23:22.140 very vicious, 00:23:22.140 --> 00:23:23.180 and by 00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:23.380 a 00:23:23.380 --> 00:23:23.980 combination 00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:24.759 of 00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:25.360 deceitful 00:23:25.360 --> 00:23:25.980 diplomacy 00:23:25.980 --> 00:23:27.000 and 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:27.320 brute 00:23:27.320 --> 00:23:27.860 force, 00:23:28.340 --> 00:23:28.800 he had 00:23:28.800 --> 00:23:29.160 a lot 00:23:29.160 --> 00:23:29.340 of 00:23:29.340 --> 00:23:29.960 success 00:23:29.960 --> 00:23:30.900 against 00:23:30.900 --> 00:23:31.420 Egypt 00:23:31.420 --> 00:23:32.060 and 00:23:32.060 --> 00:23:32.540 in 00:23:32.540 --> 00:23:32.980 controlling 00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:33.540 the 00:23:33.540 --> 00:23:34.080 nations 00:23:34.080 --> 00:23:34.660 round 00:23:34.660 --> 00:23:35.020 about. 00:23:36.140 --> 00:23:36.580 And in 00:23:36.580 --> 00:23:37.200 particular, 00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:37.980 he was 00:23:37.980 --> 00:23:38.600 someone who 00:23:38.600 --> 00:23:39.200 really was 00:23:39.200 --> 00:23:39.660 against 00:23:39.660 --> 00:23:40.800 the Jews. 00:23:41.800 --> 00:23:42.180 As you've 00:23:42.180 --> 00:23:42.700 heard to 00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:43.480 briefly 00:23:43.480 --> 00:23:44.500 in this 00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:44.980 passage 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:45.600 in verse 00:23:45.600 --> 00:23:46.480 28, 00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:48.700 it is 00:23:48.700 --> 00:23:49.200 not the 00:23:49.200 --> 00:23:49.759 full force 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:50.140 of what's 00:23:50.140 --> 00:23:50.440 happened 00:23:50.440 --> 00:23:50.840 there. 00:23:50.839 --> 00:23:51.959 In verse 00:23:51.959 --> 00:23:52.559 28, 00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:53.439 it says 00:23:53.439 --> 00:23:53.720 he will 00:23:53.720 --> 00:23:53.939 take 00:23:53.939 --> 00:23:54.319 action 00:23:54.319 --> 00:23:54.699 against 00:23:54.699 --> 00:23:55.199 Israel. 00:23:55.779 --> 00:23:55.899 The 00:23:55.899 --> 00:23:56.359 action he 00:23:56.359 --> 00:23:56.699 took on 00:23:56.699 --> 00:23:56.980 his way 00:23:56.980 --> 00:23:57.379 back from 00:23:57.379 --> 00:23:57.919 a campaign 00:23:57.919 --> 00:23:58.519 in Egypt 00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:59.659 was extremely 00:23:59.659 --> 00:24:01.419 cruel and 00:24:01.419 --> 00:24:02.220 very 00:24:02.220 --> 00:24:02.839 vicious. 00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:04.379 But that 00:24:04.379 --> 00:24:04.740 was only 00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.279 beginning, 00:24:05.959 --> 00:24:06.419 because the 00:24:06.419 --> 00:24:06.980 next time 00:24:06.980 --> 00:24:07.619 Antiochus 00:24:07.619 --> 00:24:08.099 went down 00:24:08.099 --> 00:24:08.759 to Egypt, 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:09.439 he was 00:24:09.439 --> 00:24:10.599 defeated by 00:24:10.599 --> 00:24:11.720 the upcoming 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:12.740 Roman army. 00:24:12.859 --> 00:24:13.179 Rome, of 00:24:13.179 --> 00:24:13.559 course, would 00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:13.859 be the 00:24:13.859 --> 00:24:14.799 power in 00:24:14.799 --> 00:24:15.359 the future. 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:16.779 And as 00:24:16.779 --> 00:24:17.179 he went 00:24:17.179 --> 00:24:17.659 home, 00:24:18.079 --> 00:24:18.819 he vented 00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:19.500 his fury 00:24:19.500 --> 00:24:20.659 against 00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:21.540 Israel. 00:24:22.800 --> 00:24:23.300 And one 00:24:23.300 --> 00:24:23.560 of the 00:24:23.560 --> 00:24:23.920 things he 00:24:23.920 --> 00:24:24.220 did, and 00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:24.560 again we 00:24:24.560 --> 00:24:25.040 talked about 00:24:25.040 --> 00:24:25.380 this a 00:24:25.380 --> 00:24:25.720 couple of 00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:26.259 weeks ago, 00:24:26.840 --> 00:24:27.360 one of the 00:24:27.360 --> 00:24:27.820 things he 00:24:27.820 --> 00:24:28.820 did was 00:24:28.820 --> 00:24:29.460 to stop 00:24:29.460 --> 00:24:30.160 the normal 00:24:30.160 --> 00:24:30.940 sacrifices 00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:31.740 in the 00:24:31.740 --> 00:24:32.160 temple, 00:24:32.600 --> 00:24:33.160 to set 00:24:33.160 --> 00:24:33.500 up an 00:24:33.500 --> 00:24:34.200 altar to 00:24:34.200 --> 00:24:34.620 Zeus 00:24:34.620 --> 00:24:35.060 there, 00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:35.960 and to 00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:36.580 sacrifice 00:24:36.580 --> 00:24:37.300 pigs on 00:24:37.300 --> 00:24:37.720 it, real 00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:38.380 anathema 00:24:38.380 --> 00:24:39.400 to the 00:24:39.400 --> 00:24:39.840 Jews. 00:24:41.100 --> 00:24:41.620 Antioch 00:24:41.620 --> 00:24:42.480 Episanes 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:43.420 was a 00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:43.860 cruel, 00:24:44.320 --> 00:24:44.940 godless 00:24:44.940 --> 00:24:45.720 man, and 00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:46.000 you can 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:46.580 see that 00:24:46.580 --> 00:24:47.320 if you 00:24:47.320 --> 00:24:47.720 read through 00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:48.200 the verses 00:24:48.200 --> 00:24:49.140 in the 00:24:49.140 --> 00:24:49.539 chapter. 00:24:50.740 --> 00:24:51.259 Now so 00:24:51.259 --> 00:24:52.100 far we 00:24:52.100 --> 00:24:52.259 have 00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:52.680 something 00:24:52.680 --> 00:24:53.220 that is 00:24:53.220 --> 00:24:53.960 historically 00:24:53.960 --> 00:24:54.779 very 00:24:54.779 --> 00:24:55.299 accurate. 00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:56.680 But then 00:24:56.680 --> 00:24:56.940 when we 00:24:56.940 --> 00:24:57.279 come to 00:24:57.279 --> 00:24:58.039 verse 36 00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:58.960 it's a 00:24:58.960 --> 00:24:59.500 lot more 00:24:59.500 --> 00:25:00.200 difficult to 00:25:00.200 --> 00:25:00.720 see what's 00:25:00.720 --> 00:25:01.360 going on. 00:25:02.039 --> 00:25:02.980 It looks 00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:03.480 as if it's 00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:04.140 still talking 00:25:04.140 --> 00:25:04.480 about 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:05.360 Antiochus, 00:25:05.860 --> 00:25:06.539 but there's 00:25:06.539 --> 00:25:07.100 nothing in 00:25:07.100 --> 00:25:07.819 his life 00:25:07.819 --> 00:25:08.740 that corresponds 00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:09.700 to what's 00:25:09.700 --> 00:25:10.140 there, and 00:25:10.140 --> 00:25:10.720 indeed nothing 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:11.880 in the 00:25:11.880 --> 00:25:12.759 lives of 00:25:12.759 --> 00:25:13.180 his 00:25:13.180 --> 00:25:14.420 successors. 00:25:14.420 --> 00:25:15.880 So what's 00:25:15.880 --> 00:25:16.320 going on 00:25:16.320 --> 00:25:16.680 here? 00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:18.680 Well, one 00:25:18.680 --> 00:25:19.880 suggestion, one 00:25:19.880 --> 00:25:20.900 thing that 00:25:20.900 --> 00:25:21.460 people would 00:25:21.460 --> 00:25:22.100 hold to 00:25:22.100 --> 00:25:23.140 is that 00:25:23.140 --> 00:25:23.539 what we 00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:24.200 see here 00:25:24.200 --> 00:25:25.539 is Antiochus 00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:26.420 as a 00:25:26.420 --> 00:25:27.140 type, as a 00:25:27.140 --> 00:25:27.940 foreshadowing 00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:28.740 of what 00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:29.400 will come 00:25:29.400 --> 00:25:30.460 in the 00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:31.660 end days. 00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:32.120 A 00:25:32.120 --> 00:25:32.740 foreshadowing 00:25:32.740 --> 00:25:33.320 of someone 00:25:33.320 --> 00:25:33.920 who's even 00:25:33.920 --> 00:25:34.980 worse, who 00:25:34.980 --> 00:25:35.680 will completely 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:36.840 fulfil the 00:25:36.840 --> 00:25:37.279 prophecy 00:25:37.279 --> 00:25:38.160 here. 00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:39.200 The person 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:39.400 who is 00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:40.060 described in 00:25:40.060 --> 00:25:40.539 the Bible 00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:41.279 as the 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:42.160 Antichrist 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:43.000 or the 00:25:43.000 --> 00:25:44.039 man of 00:25:44.039 --> 00:25:44.420 sin. 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:45.759 Now, if I 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:46.319 pursue this 00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:46.920 view just a 00:25:46.920 --> 00:25:47.339 little bit 00:25:47.339 --> 00:25:48.579 further, the 00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:49.639 70 weeks that 00:25:49.639 --> 00:25:50.000 are talked 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:50.460 about in 00:25:50.460 --> 00:25:51.159 Daniel, 70 00:25:51.159 --> 00:25:51.700 periods of 00:25:51.700 --> 00:25:52.619 seven years, 00:25:53.119 --> 00:25:53.539 and within 00:25:53.539 --> 00:25:54.039 them you 00:25:54.039 --> 00:25:54.639 see at the 00:25:54.639 --> 00:25:54.920 end of 00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:55.779 week 69, 00:25:56.379 --> 00:25:56.720 God's 00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:57.359 anointed is 00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:57.819 put to 00:25:57.819 --> 00:25:58.639 death, so 00:25:58.639 --> 00:25:59.000 that could 00:25:59.000 --> 00:25:59.359 be a 00:25:59.359 --> 00:25:59.899 reference to 00:25:59.899 --> 00:26:00.240 the Lord 00:26:00.240 --> 00:26:00.599 Jesus. 00:26:01.420 --> 00:26:01.759 And then 00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:02.139 the thought 00:26:02.139 --> 00:26:02.519 is there's 00:26:02.519 --> 00:26:02.940 quite a 00:26:02.940 --> 00:26:03.659 long gap, 00:26:03.980 --> 00:26:04.559 gap of at 00:26:04.559 --> 00:26:05.119 least around 00:26:05.119 --> 00:26:06.220 2,000 years 00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:07.319 in there 00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:08.339 before the 00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:09.279 70th week. 00:26:09.839 --> 00:26:10.420 Before the 00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:11.079 70th week, 00:26:11.159 --> 00:26:11.519 the church 00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:12.220 is taken out 00:26:12.220 --> 00:26:12.639 of the world, 00:26:12.700 --> 00:26:13.039 as we read 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:13.599 in Ephesians, 00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:15.000 1 Thessalonians 00:26:15.000 --> 00:26:15.879 chapter 4, 00:26:16.459 --> 00:26:17.619 and then this 00:26:17.619 --> 00:26:18.799 man is let 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:19.439 loose. 00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:19.939 He makes a 00:26:19.939 --> 00:26:20.279 number of 00:26:20.279 --> 00:26:21.779 alliances, but 00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:22.480 at the end 00:26:22.480 --> 00:26:23.159 he really 00:26:23.159 --> 00:26:24.019 rises against 00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:24.839 Israel, makes 00:26:24.839 --> 00:26:25.339 his base 00:26:25.339 --> 00:26:25.759 there as he 00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.500 fights wars 00:26:26.500 --> 00:26:27.419 on all 00:26:27.419 --> 00:26:27.919 fronts. 00:26:28.519 --> 00:26:28.959 And in the 00:26:28.959 --> 00:26:29.539 end he is 00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:30.379 roundly defeated 00:26:30.379 --> 00:26:32.319 by God and 00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:33.399 by his 00:26:33.399 --> 00:26:34.079 army. 00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:35.559 Now, I'll give 00:26:35.559 --> 00:26:36.219 that to you for 00:26:36.219 --> 00:26:37.279 your consideration. 00:26:37.819 --> 00:26:38.519 It is one view, 00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:38.879 as I say, 00:26:38.959 --> 00:26:39.480 this is a 00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:40.859 difficult and 00:26:40.859 --> 00:26:41.299 in many ways 00:26:41.299 --> 00:26:41.759 controversial 00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:42.919 area, but 00:26:42.919 --> 00:26:43.399 here is one 00:26:43.399 --> 00:26:44.859 possibility for 00:26:44.859 --> 00:26:45.139 it. 00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:46.240 But let's 00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:46.879 move on to 00:26:46.879 --> 00:26:48.579 chapter 12 00:26:48.579 --> 00:26:49.779 as we come 00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:50.259 towards the 00:26:50.259 --> 00:26:50.740 conclusion. 00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:52.579 If chapter 12 00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:53.259 might make us 00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:54.139 despair for the 00:26:54.139 --> 00:26:54.759 world around 00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:55.720 us, that there 00:26:55.720 --> 00:26:56.299 is so much 00:26:56.299 --> 00:26:57.419 evil going on, 00:26:57.579 --> 00:26:58.200 there are so 00:26:58.200 --> 00:26:59.019 many people of 00:26:59.019 --> 00:27:00.279 ill will in 00:27:00.279 --> 00:27:00.960 leadership, and 00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:01.539 we can see that 00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:02.500 today as much as 00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:03.259 Daniel could see 00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:03.720 it or the 00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:05.299 vision presented 00:27:05.299 --> 00:27:06.059 it to him. 00:27:06.619 --> 00:27:07.480 There is a lot 00:27:07.480 --> 00:27:08.159 in the world that 00:27:08.159 --> 00:27:08.759 should cause us 00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:10.480 real distress as 00:27:10.480 --> 00:27:11.039 Christians. 00:27:12.160 --> 00:27:13.200 But chapter 12 00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:13.980 is there to 00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:15.420 give comfort to 00:27:15.420 --> 00:27:16.140 God's people. 00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:17.799 It starts with a 00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:18.440 time of great 00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:18.879 distress. 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:19.740 Jesus called it 00:27:19.740 --> 00:27:20.579 the tribulation, 00:27:21.119 --> 00:27:22.119 but ultimately 00:27:22.119 --> 00:27:23.680 it says God's 00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:25.299 people will be 00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:26.240 triumphant. 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:27.460 One of the 00:27:27.460 --> 00:27:28.019 things, one of 00:27:28.019 --> 00:27:28.519 the glorious 00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:29.299 things that will 00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:30.599 happen is that 00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:31.240 those who have 00:27:31.240 --> 00:27:32.119 died believing 00:27:32.119 --> 00:27:33.500 in God, believing 00:27:33.500 --> 00:27:35.200 in Jesus, will be 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:36.460 raised to life 00:27:36.460 --> 00:27:36.900 again. 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:38.019 And here in 00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.700 Daniel in the 00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:40.019 Old Testament, we 00:27:40.019 --> 00:27:40.740 have something that 00:27:40.740 --> 00:27:41.519 has developed in 00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:43.160 much more detail in 00:27:43.160 --> 00:27:43.920 the New Testament. 00:27:44.079 --> 00:27:44.559 In the immediate 00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:45.680 context, Daniel may 00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:46.740 be talking specifically 00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:49.319 about the Jews, but 00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:51.079 as we look forward, we 00:27:51.079 --> 00:27:52.099 know from what Paul 00:27:52.099 --> 00:27:52.740 writes and what we 00:27:52.740 --> 00:27:54.160 read in Revelation 00:27:54.160 --> 00:27:55.799 and elsewhere that 00:27:55.799 --> 00:27:57.680 everyone will be 00:27:57.680 --> 00:27:59.200 raised to life. 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:00.019 All those who have 00:28:00.019 --> 00:28:01.220 died will be raised 00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:02.339 and they will be 00:28:02.339 --> 00:28:03.900 raised either to 00:28:03.900 --> 00:28:06.059 eternal life or to 00:28:06.059 --> 00:28:07.779 eternal judgment. 00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:08.799 That's in verse 2 of 00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:09.619 chapter 12. 00:28:10.579 --> 00:28:11.359 Multitudes who 00:28:11.359 --> 00:28:12.299 sleep in the dust of 00:28:12.299 --> 00:28:12.859 the earth will 00:28:12.859 --> 00:28:14.539 awake, some to 00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:16.319 eternal life, others 00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:17.700 to shame and 00:28:17.700 --> 00:28:19.680 everlasting contempt. 00:28:20.639 --> 00:28:22.319 All of us will be 00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:22.720 judged. 00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:24.980 All of us will need to 00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:26.480 face the Lord Jesus. 00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:28.720 If we haven't trusted 00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:29.940 in the Lord Jesus, if we 00:28:29.940 --> 00:28:31.000 haven't put our faith in 00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:31.700 him as the one who 00:28:31.700 --> 00:28:33.139 died on the cross to 00:28:33.139 --> 00:28:34.839 take our sins, that 00:28:34.839 --> 00:28:36.420 judgment will be to 00:28:36.420 --> 00:28:38.279 eternal condemnation. 00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:40.300 If our trust is in 00:28:40.300 --> 00:28:41.980 Jesus, if we have put 00:28:41.980 --> 00:28:43.500 our faith in him, we 00:28:43.500 --> 00:28:44.360 will be raised to 00:28:44.360 --> 00:28:45.340 eternal life. 00:28:45.900 --> 00:28:47.759 And, says Daniel, there 00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:49.740 will be rewards, special 00:28:49.740 --> 00:28:51.320 rewards for those who 00:28:51.320 --> 00:28:52.820 lead many to 00:28:52.820 --> 00:28:53.400 righteousness. 00:28:54.140 --> 00:28:55.039 I would take it that 00:28:55.039 --> 00:28:56.460 that is those who 00:28:56.460 --> 00:28:57.680 particularly communicate 00:28:57.680 --> 00:28:58.920 effectively the message 00:28:58.920 --> 00:29:00.580 of hope through God, 00:29:00.680 --> 00:29:01.640 through the Lord Jesus, 00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:03.259 us, and to, through 00:29:03.259 --> 00:29:04.640 that, our instrument 00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:05.920 when bringing others 00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:06.840 to him. 00:29:08.020 --> 00:29:08.400 And I think, 00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:09.860 ultimately, this is the 00:29:09.860 --> 00:29:11.460 key message we need to 00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:12.580 take from these 00:29:12.580 --> 00:29:13.040 chapters. 00:29:13.860 --> 00:29:15.980 God is in control, and 00:29:15.980 --> 00:29:16.920 when the Lord Jesus 00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:18.880 returns, there will be a 00:29:18.880 --> 00:29:20.420 judgment, there will be 00:29:20.420 --> 00:29:22.160 reward, and there will 00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:23.280 be punishment. 00:29:24.880 --> 00:29:26.180 Those who trust in 00:29:26.180 --> 00:29:27.820 Jesus will rise to 00:29:27.820 --> 00:29:28.740 eternal life. 00:29:28.740 --> 00:29:30.640 those who don't will 00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:31.960 rise to eternal 00:29:31.960 --> 00:29:32.359 judgment. 00:29:32.440 --> 00:29:33.759 That is a very solemn 00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:35.359 thought, isn't it? 00:29:35.819 --> 00:29:36.779 And if we are Christians 00:29:36.779 --> 00:29:38.599 today, as we see a world 00:29:38.599 --> 00:29:40.039 around us with people who 00:29:40.039 --> 00:29:41.259 don't know the Lord Jesus, 00:29:41.779 --> 00:29:42.859 perhaps have never heard 00:29:42.859 --> 00:29:44.180 the message about him, 00:29:44.200 --> 00:29:44.940 it should be a real 00:29:44.940 --> 00:29:46.779 challenge to us to tell 00:29:46.779 --> 00:29:48.380 them the gospel of Jesus, 00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:49.599 that they may have hope 00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:51.160 that they will be raised to 00:29:51.160 --> 00:29:53.700 eternal life and not to 00:29:53.700 --> 00:29:54.180 judgment. 00:29:54.980 --> 00:29:57.079 And perhaps all of us, as 00:29:57.079 --> 00:29:58.200 we think about these things, 00:29:58.200 --> 00:29:59.000 we need to examine 00:29:59.000 --> 00:30:00.779 ourselves and to make 00:30:00.779 --> 00:30:02.779 sure that our trust is in 00:30:02.779 --> 00:30:04.559 Jesus and that we know 00:30:04.559 --> 00:30:06.480 that one day we will go 00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:08.259 to be with him. 00:30:09.319 --> 00:30:10.240 Now, our time is pretty 00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:11.180 well gone, so I'm not 00:30:11.180 --> 00:30:11.920 going to go into the 00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:13.340 latter part of chapter 12, 00:30:13.400 --> 00:30:14.519 which is about timing. 00:30:15.319 --> 00:30:16.220 There's three and a half 00:30:16.220 --> 00:30:16.880 years in there. 00:30:16.940 --> 00:30:17.779 If you want to talk about 00:30:17.779 --> 00:30:18.700 it later, I'm happy to do 00:30:18.700 --> 00:30:19.019 that. 00:30:19.600 --> 00:30:20.720 I think the key mistake 00:30:20.720 --> 00:30:22.160 from that, there's a lot 00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:24.120 we don't know about the 00:30:24.120 --> 00:30:24.960 future, and particularly 00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:25.720 about the timing. 00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:27.319 We don't know when the 00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:29.279 Lord Jesus will return. 00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:31.380 But let me end by 00:30:31.380 --> 00:30:32.200 returning where we 00:30:32.200 --> 00:30:33.680 started to the general 00:30:33.680 --> 00:30:34.180 election. 00:30:35.180 --> 00:30:36.420 If you vote in the 00:30:36.420 --> 00:30:37.799 general election, your 00:30:37.799 --> 00:30:38.839 vote will probably be 00:30:38.839 --> 00:30:40.259 based on a combination of 00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:40.680 things. 00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:43.360 Part of it will be your 00:30:43.360 --> 00:30:43.940 priorities. 00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:45.660 Which of the parties' 00:30:45.839 --> 00:30:47.900 priorities chime with you? 00:30:48.600 --> 00:30:50.019 Part of it will be what the 00:30:50.019 --> 00:30:51.019 parties have promised. 00:30:51.019 --> 00:30:53.519 Is it realistic to expect 00:30:53.519 --> 00:30:54.740 what they've said? 00:30:55.139 --> 00:30:57.079 And is it desirable that 00:30:57.079 --> 00:30:58.900 these things should happen? 00:30:59.920 --> 00:31:01.319 But ultimately, I suspect, 00:31:01.559 --> 00:31:03.180 for many of us, it's going 00:31:03.180 --> 00:31:04.940 to come down to trust. 00:31:05.700 --> 00:31:07.500 Do we really trust these 00:31:07.500 --> 00:31:09.099 politicians to do what they 00:31:09.099 --> 00:31:09.460 say? 00:31:10.200 --> 00:31:11.440 Do we trust that they 00:31:11.440 --> 00:31:13.359 actually are able to if they 00:31:13.359 --> 00:31:13.920 want to? 00:31:14.279 --> 00:31:15.579 And do we trust that they 00:31:15.579 --> 00:31:17.900 have our best interests at 00:31:17.900 --> 00:31:18.339 heart? 00:31:18.740 --> 00:31:20.519 In our country, here, time and 00:31:20.519 --> 00:31:21.460 time again during the 00:31:21.460 --> 00:31:22.879 election, the level of 00:31:22.879 --> 00:31:24.900 trust in politicians is 00:31:24.900 --> 00:31:25.920 very low. 00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:27.660 And we may well vote in 00:31:27.660 --> 00:31:28.579 the expectation that 00:31:28.579 --> 00:31:30.339 ultimately we may well be 00:31:30.339 --> 00:31:31.200 let down. 00:31:32.299 --> 00:31:33.619 I hope as we've studied 00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:34.759 the book of Daniel, this 00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:35.759 section, but the whole of 00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:37.500 the book, that we can see 00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:40.039 that God can be trusted to 00:31:40.039 --> 00:31:41.579 care for his people. 00:31:42.639 --> 00:31:43.720 Parts of the book come 00:31:43.720 --> 00:31:45.299 across as a bit weird, 00:31:45.579 --> 00:31:47.500 certainly very difficult to 00:31:47.500 --> 00:31:48.220 understand. 00:31:49.079 --> 00:31:50.500 Parts of it are very heavy. 00:31:50.980 --> 00:31:52.119 That you really need to 00:31:52.119 --> 00:31:53.759 think carefully about what's 00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:55.440 being said, and even then 00:31:55.440 --> 00:31:57.559 you may not fully understand 00:31:57.559 --> 00:31:58.099 it. 00:31:59.019 --> 00:32:00.839 But the big message, the 00:32:00.839 --> 00:32:02.160 message in chapter 1, when 00:32:02.160 --> 00:32:03.420 Daniel and his friends take a 00:32:03.420 --> 00:32:05.299 stand on eating food, and God 00:32:05.299 --> 00:32:05.960 honors that. 00:32:06.440 --> 00:32:08.319 The message in chapter 3, when 00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:09.339 Shadrach, Meshach, and 00:32:09.339 --> 00:32:11.079 Abednego refuse to bow down to 00:32:11.079 --> 00:32:12.980 the idol and are thrown to the 00:32:12.980 --> 00:32:13.639 fiery furnace. 00:32:14.220 --> 00:32:16.240 The message in chapter 6, as 00:32:16.240 --> 00:32:18.000 Daniel refuses to stop his daily 00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:19.799 habit of prayer and is thrown 00:32:19.799 --> 00:32:20.859 into the lion's den. 00:32:21.359 --> 00:32:22.539 And the message of the more 00:32:22.539 --> 00:32:24.519 difficult bits towards the end. 00:32:24.980 --> 00:32:26.380 It's the same message. 00:32:27.140 --> 00:32:29.759 If we are faithful to God, if we 00:32:29.759 --> 00:32:31.740 live faithfully in difficult 00:32:31.740 --> 00:32:34.480 times in a lion's den world, as 00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:37.660 Darcy's title says, then God will 00:32:37.660 --> 00:32:39.779 be faithful to us. 00:32:39.779 --> 00:32:42.359 We may face opposition. 00:32:42.539 --> 00:32:44.599 We will face opposition if we're 00:32:44.599 --> 00:32:46.660 standing firm as Christians. 00:32:47.259 --> 00:32:49.839 We may face great difficulties in 00:32:49.839 --> 00:32:50.379 our lives. 00:32:50.420 --> 00:32:51.599 And there may be times when we're 00:32:51.599 --> 00:32:52.940 looking around us at what's 00:32:52.940 --> 00:32:54.579 happening, and we say, why? 00:32:54.660 --> 00:32:57.559 Why, God, do you allow this? 00:32:58.319 --> 00:33:00.619 But ultimately, God is in control, 00:33:00.960 --> 00:33:03.299 and we can trust him for the 00:33:03.299 --> 00:33:03.720 future. 00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:05.680 As John says in his epistle, the 00:33:05.680 --> 00:33:08.200 one who is in us is greater than 00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:10.600 the one who is in the world. 00:33:11.180 --> 00:33:12.620 So let's go away from this series 00:33:12.620 --> 00:33:14.240 with our confidence in God 00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:16.980 increased, with an understanding 00:33:16.980 --> 00:33:19.279 of how great our Heavenly Father 00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:21.920 is, that he is in control of 00:33:21.920 --> 00:33:24.880 everything, and that ultimately he 00:33:24.880 --> 00:33:26.519 will be seen to triumph as that 00:33:26.519 --> 00:33:28.460 victory has already been won by the 00:33:28.460 --> 00:33:29.640 Lord Jesus on the cross. 00:33:29.759 --> 00:33:31.880 God will be seen to triumph as 00:33:31.880 --> 00:33:34.220 Jesus is recognized as the King of 00:33:34.220 --> 00:33:36.279 Kings and Lord of Lords. 00:33:36.279 --> 00:33:38.279 God will be seen to you in the 00:33:38.279 --> 00:33:39.279 world. 00:33:39.279 --> 00:33:40.279 God will be seen to you in the 00:33:40.279 --> 00:33:41.279 world. 00:33:41.279 --> 00:33:43.019 Let's join together in prayer. 00:33:45.019 --> 00:33:46.339 Our Father, we thank you for your 00:33:46.339 --> 00:33:46.660 word. 00:33:46.779 --> 00:33:47.960 We thank you that although this 00:33:47.960 --> 00:33:49.859 passage is in many ways very 00:33:49.859 --> 00:33:52.279 difficult, yet what it brings across 00:33:52.279 --> 00:33:55.019 to us is a God who is in control, a 00:33:55.019 --> 00:33:57.819 God who cares for his people, and a 00:33:57.819 --> 00:34:00.559 God who ultimately will vindicate those 00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:01.779 who trust in him. 00:34:02.379 --> 00:34:03.740 We thank you for the Lord Jesus. 00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:05.940 We thank you for his death for us on 00:34:05.940 --> 00:34:06.440 the cross. 00:34:06.539 --> 00:34:07.859 We thank you for his resurrection, 00:34:08.420 --> 00:34:09.940 which gives us the assurance that 00:34:09.940 --> 00:34:12.260 those who die knowing him will also 00:34:12.260 --> 00:34:14.320 be raised to eternal life. 00:34:14.739 --> 00:34:15.940 Help us to trust him. 00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:19.179 Help us to be faithful in this time, 00:34:19.719 --> 00:34:21.880 and help us to be those who, like 00:34:21.880 --> 00:34:24.739 Daniel, put our confidence in God and 00:34:25.440 --> 00:34:28.159 see his blessing in our lives. 00:34:28.280 --> 00:34:29.599 We thank you for this time together. 00:34:30.039 --> 00:34:31.179 We thank you for your word. 00:34:31.179 --> 00:34:33.659 We pray you continue to be with us in 00:34:33.659 --> 00:34:34.940 the time of fellowship we have 00:34:34.940 --> 00:34:35.940 together over lunch. 00:34:36.399 --> 00:34:38.179 We give our thanks in Jesus' name. 00:34:38.859 --> 00:34:39.259 Amen.