Prophecy of Kings

 

    Today is a continuation of the last vision/prophecy that Daniel had about the fate of his people (God's people).  The timeline of this vision is not precise.  It kind of jumps around.  The end of time here is the end of BC.  AD is a new time era.

    The vision included more than his people because other people always have influence.  Other people will always be involved in making a person who they are and who they will become.  After all God created everyone, so His desire is that we influence the world too.  

    Persia had three more kings that grew their wealth, but the fourth (Ahasuerus) was the wealthiest.  The first three were Cambyses, Pseudo-Smerdis, and Darius.  Ahasuerus rose up against Greece and lost.  

    The conquering king was Alexander the Great.  He did as he pleased.  As soon as his kingdom was established, his kingdom broke.  His descendants got nothing.  They were uprooted and all the power went to other people.

    The southern king (Ptolemy I Soter of Egypt) became strong, but one of his commanders was stronger and became king of the north (Seleucid I Nicator).  When Ptolemy I Soter died, the discord of the southern kingdom went to Ptolemy II Philadelphus.  The southern king's daughter (Berenice) went to the northern king (Antiochus II) to seal an alliance through marriage.  

    The alliance did not last.  Antiochus II ended up murdering Bernice and their child.  Bernice's brother (Ptolemy III Euergetes) rose up in vengeance.  He stormed Antioch and was victorious there.  Ptolemy and Seleucus went to war.  This was only the beginning.  The southern kingdom greatest victory was when Ptolemy IV Philopater battled Antiochus III , but thousands were slaughtered along the way for arrogance.  The nation could not hold it's power and fell to the Seleucid Kingdom.

    As the warring continued throughout generation after generation, the northern king destroyed all the beauty of the land.  Violence became an acceptable part of life.  The cycle kept repeating, but with different players and their variant decisions.  Each nation had hate in their hearts.  

    The northern king exalted himself as god over all gods.  This is where Cleopatra has a role in the story.  She chose to side with her husband Antiochus III over her father Ptolemy V.  Antiochus III concurred Egypt and then put his focus on the Mediterranean.  He was defeated by the Roman commander Lucius Cornelius Scipio.  Antiochus then put his focus on his own kingdom, but there he fell.  

    Seleucus IV ended up paying heavy taxes to Rome.  His reign was short.  He was poisoned by his tax collectors.  Then Antiochus IV became king.  He was despised by his own people.  He was terribly oppressive to the Jews as he sought to destroy Judaism.  He killed the high priest Onias III to try to destroy the covenant word.  He killed 80,000 Jewish people and plundered God's temple.  

    Antiochus IV went after Egypt again, but Rome stopped and humiliated him.  The Roman fleet was lead by Gaius Populius Laenas.  Antiochus wanted to regain pride, so he attacked Israel again in 167 BC.  He represented an antichrist.  

    A group formed called the Maccabees.  They revolted and rededicated God's temple to be holy again.  However, it seems like the Jews are always the focus of war from the anti-Christian people.  Countless deaths occur to try to silence God by multiple antichrist.  It will not end until Armageddon and Christ's return.    

Daniel 11