But as soon as he is established, his kingdom will be broken up and parceled out toward the four winds of heaven. It will not go to his descendants, nor will it have the authority with which he ruled, because his kingdom will be uprooted and given to others. Sermons
1. That, deeply interesting as may be the eleventh chapter considered as prophecy, and so demanding minute historical exposition, there does not seem to be much admitting of strictly homiletical treatment. The impression of others may be different; but that is our view; and we act upon it by advancing to the twelfth chapter. 2. That the homilies immediately following are founded upon the view expressed by Keil, that the closing verses of the eleventh chapter refer to "the end of the present world-period," not to Antiochus Epiphanes, but to the final enemy of the people of God, the antichrist; and further, that the first three verses of the twelfth chapter treat of "the final deliverance of Israel from the last tribulation." In other words, that the prophecies of Daniel close by projecting themselves on into the closing scenes of the history of our world. The first verse declares that the close, of earth's history shall be a time of unparalleled trouble; that the activity of Michael, the guardian angel of Israel, shall then be prominent; that there shall be deliverance for all the true Israel of God, viz. of those whose names are written in "the book. Of that book we treat; but seeking light upon it from the later revelations of God. By the book" we understand the register of the redeemed of the Lord - the heavenly Church book - the roll of the one universal Church. I. THE BOOK. The language is symbolic. There is in heaven something which may well be represented by a book. Books play no mean part in Scripture symbolism. To understand the passages we must remember that ancient books were, for the most part, written on parchment, rolled on cylinders, and usually the writing was on one side only. In Revelation 5:1 the book is the crowded roll of the providential counsels. A book sealed is one whose contents are secret. To eat a book is spiritually to assimilate its contents (Revelation 10:9, 10; Jeremiah 15:16). A book "folded up stands for law repealed, or teaching of no further use. To receive a book is to enter on new dignity (Revelation 5:7). Christ enters on the functions of mediatorial providential King. II. THE TITLE. The book of life" (Revelation 21:27). 1. What it is not. Not what is called "the volume of the Divine decrees." Revelation 3:5 settles that. 2. What it is. One of the two to be produced at the last judgment (see Revelation 20:11-13). Look at them separately. (1) The books of the deeds of men. The judgment of the great day will be "according to the deeds," etc. (2 Corinthians 5:10). But how does this comport with the evangelical doctrine that believers are saved and unbelievers lost (John 3:14-19)? (a) As to the unbeliever. His deeds are the evidence of unbelief. (b) The believer. (α) Deeds, again, are evidence of faith. (β) Deeds determine place in glory. (2) The book of life. A book of names only, of the living - spiritually; i.e. of the saved. Alford says, "Those books and the book of life bear independent witness to the fact of men being or not being among the saved; the one by inference from the works recorded, the other by inscription or non-inscription in the list." 3. The origin of the figure. Whence? Various answers, but all suggestive. The carefully kept list of priests? of citizens? of wrestlers in the great Greek agony? the monster roll of soldiers in the Roman army? Believers ought to be all there - priests, etc. Think, then: In the book every believer's name, not in the world's order, but in the order of coming into the Church universal. It is the family register of our Father in heaven. What if we could read it? The names clearly written! No mistake! What disclosures l Names there; names not there! No impeachment of the record. No doubtful name. Are our names there? III. THE OWNER. "The Lamb's book of life." Why? 1. The book is the register of his property. His "own. Blood-bought. His ransomed, servants, subjects, soldiers, friends, younger brethren. 2. He enters the names. How do we know? None beside has the ability or qualification. The writer must be everywhere, see all, know all. What wise discrimination needed too! tender sympathy! instant delicate recognition of the trust of a soul going out to him! 3. As Guardian, he keeps the book. The book, ever open, lies in the shadow of the protection of Christ's throne (John 10:28). IV. THE NAMES. 1. The names ever there. Of those who go out no more for ever." 2. The blotted names. (Revelation 22:19; Revelation 3:5.) Surely no idle threats these (Hebrews 10:29)! V. Tile BLANK SPACES. There are places for coming names. Millions of names have been filled in; and "yet there is room." The blank space for your name waits your decision. ,Some names never will be there. (John 5:40.) What then? Revelation 20:15: figurative language? Yes. But figure must be less ever than the reality. - R.
And the King shall do according to his will. We Christians look for an Antichrist yet to come. Apart from revelation, it is, in itself, in conformity with human nature, and the laws of things, that, as good intensifies to a grand consummation of good, so will evil also intensify the grand consummation of evil. The world is made up of light and shadow, the one always accompanying the other; and as the light increases the shadows deepen; till, when the king of glory comes to crown and establish the good, he will be confronted with the King and head of all wickedness, wrought up to the summit of lawlessness and blasphemy at which its doom shall come. In the Old Testament, wherever we look we find some image and fore-intimation of this great evil power, running parallel with the predictions and promises concerning the seed of the Woman, and the Messiah of the chosen people. It was the firm belief of all the Christian Fathers that there is yet to come a development and impersonation of Antichristianism more dreadful than has ever yet been seen on Earth, and which shall be destroyed only in the great day of God Almighty. This Antichrist is described in the passage of Daniel now before us. Whoever this King may be, or from whatever quarter he may come, he is the last representative of the bestial world power that ever bears rule upon earth. Whoever he is, he is some individual person. Antichrist indeed exists at all times, but only as a working spirit which has not yet come to its final development and concentrated embodiment. Wilfulness will be his characteristic; and magnifying himself, and irreligion. We everywhere and in all circles and teachings, hear about the "Coming Man." He is the man of sin, the lawless one, the Antichrist.(Joseph A. Seiss, D.D.).. And at that time shall Michael stand up. It is a little unfortunate that this chapter has been severed from what immediately precedes it. Here we learn:1. That the time of the Antichrist will be a time of unexampled distress. The trouble will be more or less upon all people then living upon the earth. 2. The time of the Antichrist is the time when Michael, the great prince over the Children of the prophet's people, shall stand up in their behalf. Some think this is the Lord Jesus himself. 3. The time of the Antichrist is also a time of blessed resurrection. 4. Then shall men receive their eternal rewards. (Joseph A. Seiss, D. D.) People Ammonites, Cushites, Daniel, Darius, Ethiopians, Habakkuk, Javan, Kittim, NubiansPlaces Edom, Egypt, Greece, Kittim, Moab, PersiaTopics Apart, Arisen, Authority, Beside, Besides, Broken, Compass, Descendants, Divided, Dominion, Empire, Exercised, Heaven, Heavens, Kingdom, Offspring, Parceled, Parted, Plucked, Points, Posterity, Power, Ruled, Sky, Sovereignty, Stand, Standing, Strong, Though, Towards, Uprooted, Wherewith, Wielded, WindsOutline 1. The overthrow of Persia by the king of Grecia.5. Leagues and conflicts between the kings of the south and of the north. 30. The invasion and tyranny of the Romans. Dictionary of Bible Themes Daniel 11:2-4Library The Syrian Persecution. "The dead bodies of Thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the air, and the flesh of Thy saints unto the beasts of the land."--Ps. lxxix. 2. The history of Antiochus the Great is foretold in the 11th chapter of the prophet Daniel, from the 14th to the 19th verse. On the death of Ptolemy Philopator, this king entered Palestine with a great army, and easily obtained from the time-serving Jews the surrender of Jerusalem. Some of them who had forsaken their Law to gain the favour … Charlotte Mary Yonge—The Chosen People Questions. Some General Uses from this Useful Truth, that Christ is the Truth. Watching the Horizon Of the Matters to be Considered in the Councils. A Discourse of the House and Forest of Lebanon Links Daniel 11:4 NIVDaniel 11:4 NLT Daniel 11:4 ESV Daniel 11:4 NASB Daniel 11:4 KJV Daniel 11:4 Bible Apps Daniel 11:4 Parallel Daniel 11:4 Biblia Paralela Daniel 11:4 Chinese Bible Daniel 11:4 French Bible Daniel 11:4 German Bible Daniel 11:4 Commentaries Bible Hub |