Trivia question.  What 1968 film featured the artificial intelligence HAL 9000?  2001 - A Space Odyssey.

How many of you have seen the movie?  How many of you saw it when it first came out?  Anyone watch the movie and look forward to living in the year 2001?  What would that be like - taking Pam Am to this space station in orbit - visiting our colony on the moon?  What an incredible world to live in.

The reality is just a tad different.  Isn’t it?  There are some similarities.  Our computers are more intelligent than we are.  We can talk face to face with people off planet.  But there are tectonic shifts in culture happening around us that Arthur C. Clarke could never have imagined.

24/7 web access - tweeting and twittering - social media - is creating cultural change that happens in a matter of hours - at the most, days.  Changes in the geo-political make-up of nations that move at the speed of the internet.  Change that’s accelerating.  Changes that are decidedly against God and God’s people.

Futurist Ray Kurzweil writes on his website:  “An analysis of the history of technology shows that technological change is exponential…  So we won’t experience 100 years of progress in the 21st century — it will be more like 20,000 years of progress (at today’s rate)…  There’s even exponential growth in the rate of exponential growth. Within a few decades, machine intelligence will surpass human intelligence…  The implications include the merger of biological and nonbiological intelligence, immortal software-based humans, and ultra-high levels of intelligence that expand outward in the universe at the speed of light.” (1)

Ponder the implications of all that.  Within 10 to 20 years this whole country - maybe the world - is radically different.  Do you ever ask yourself what will the future be like for my kids?  Or grandkids?  For me?  How can I prepare them for what’s coming?  How will I be able to face what may come?  What does that mean for me as I’m trying to follow God?

Which - as we’ve been looking at Daniel - which really are the same kinds of questions that Daniel is asking.  And, as we’ve been looking at Daniel we’ve been seeing God’s answers to those questions.  Seeing the implications of those answers for our lives as well.

Last Sunday we looked at Daniel chapter 10 which is the first of 3 chapters - chapters 10 to 12 are three chapters that are really one long episode containing the final prophetic vision given to Daniel.  This morning we are coming to chapter 11 - which is that vision.  As we’ve been doing we’re going to go through chapter 11 - unpacking as we go along - and then come to application for our lives.

Daniel 11:1:  And as for me, in the first year of Darius the Mede, I stood up to confirm and strengthen him.

Verse 1 is a Flashback that connects us backward to chapter 10. 

In chapter 10 Daniel is crying out to God - mourning for his people.  God’s people were discouraged and distracted by the events and circumstances around them.  Anxious and loosing heart.  God’s people were giving up on God - turning against God.  The future for God’s people is uncertain.  It doesn’t look good.  Daniel is in mourning before God.  What will happen to my people?  What does the future hold for them?

Chapter 11 - verse 1 - takes us back to what the angel was telling Daniel - in chapter 10 - about the unseen spiritual world which exists behind the curtain of the world we see.  There’s a spiritual battle being fought that goes on behind the scenes of what we see going on in our world  Satan and his minions rebelling against God.  A battle that we are very much a part of but way too often unaware of.  Either its unseen - spiritual not physical - or we’re numb to the reality of it.

We’re told in 10:1 that Daniel was praying in the third year of Cyrus’ reign which is about 536 - maybe 535 BC.  When?  536 or 535 BC.  Chapter 11 - the flashback - begins about 4 years before that - in the first year of Darius the Mede - which was in 539 BC.  When?  539 BC.

Chapter 11 begins in 539 BC with this angel starting out to encourage and strengthen the chief angel Michael.  But the demon responsible for Persia fought against him.  So the angel Michael comes - fights against this demon in charge of Persia - sets this other angel - the one we’re reading about here - Michael fights and sets this angel free to come and speak to Daniel - this vision.  What takes place in 535 BC - the third year of Cyrus.

Meaning that - behind the physical scenes of what’s going on Daniel’s life and the life of God’s people - what Daniel is in mourning over - crying out to God - behind all that there were 4 years of spiritual conflict going on.  That we need to hold on to.

Behind the movements of history - the future of Daniel’s people - or each one of us - behind the movements of history is a spiritual battle that effects all of what we see going on around us.  That effects every aspect of our lives.  A battle effecting the eternal destiny of mankind.

What we’re going to look at in chapter 11 is a vision of the future that was given to Daniel - that ties those two realities - spiritual and physical - ties those two realities together - and gives us guidance on how to face our future history.

Daniel 11 - starting at verse 2 - we’re looking at 44 verses this morning.  Please keep your hands and arms inside the sanctuary until the sermon comes to a complete stop.  I promise you we’ll be out of here by 3.

The part of the vision we’re looking at this morning breaks down into two major sections.  The first section - verses 2 to 35 - focus on What Has Happened.  Which is a whole lot of history to take in.

To help with that, in your bulletin you’ll find a scorecard - also labeled:  “The Historical Fulfillment of Daniel 11:2-12:3.”  Which is like keeping track of how many runs have been scored against the Giants in spring training - a lot.  Hopefully the scorecard will help keep track of God’s prophecy and real time history.  Which is a lot to take in.

Daniel 11:2:  And now I - “I” is the angel fighting the battle - talking with Daniel - and now - after four years of fighting to get here - now I will show you the truth.  Behold, three more kings shall arise in Persia, and a fourth shall be far richer than all of them.  And when he has become strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the kingdom of Greece.  Then a mighty king shall arise, who shall rule with great dominion and do as he wills.  And as soon as he has arisen, his kingdom shall be broken and divided toward the four winds of heaven, but not to his posterity, nor according to the authority with which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up and go to others besides these.

Looking at history - and you’ll see this on your scorecard in the first row to the right of verse 2 under “events” - there were four kings that followed Cyrus.  Cyrus being the king when Daniel received this vision.  The first to follow Cyrus - to rule Persia - was Cambysus - Cyrus’ son.  Then Guatama - who had Cyrus’ youngest son murdered and tried to pass himself off as Cyrus’ son.  Then Darius I.  Then - fourth - Xerxes - who was - according to the historians - fabulously wealthy - just like it says here in verse 2 - and who kept attacking Greece - until Greece finally retaliated.

The mighty king in verse 3 - first column -  historically - listed under “events” historically the mighty king is Alexander the Great.  Who - verse 4 - dies and his kingdom is broken and divided among his four generals - not one of which was a descendant - verse 4:  “not to his posterity.”

We’re kind of together?  Seeing how the scorecard helps us keep track of what’s going on in the text?  What was given prophetically to Daniel - hadn’t happened yet.  But for us looking backward we’re able to see fulfillment in real people in real time history.

Verse 5:  Then the king of the south shall be strong, but one of his princes shall be stronger than he and shall rule, and his authority shall be a great authority.  After some years they shall make an alliance, and the daughter of the king of the south shall come to the king of the north to make an agreement.  But she shall not retain the strength of her arm, and he and his arm shall not endure, but she shall be given up, and her attendants, he who fathered her, and he who supported her in those times.

Verse 7:  And from a branch of her roots one shall arise in his place.  He shall come against the army and enter the fortress of the king of the north, and he shall deal with them and shall prevail.  He shall also carry off to Egypt their gods with their metal images and their precious vessels of silver and gold, and for some years he shall refrain from attacking the king of the north.  Then the latter shall come into the realm of the king of the south but shall return to his own land.

Geographically - think Egypt.  That’s south.  The original king of the south is Ptolemy - one of Alexander’s four generals who took over the empire when Alexander died - founded a dynasty in the south - down in Egypt.  The king of the north is a reference to the area around Syria and off towards India - what is today Iraq and Iran.  An area ruled by Seleucus - another of Alexander’s generals - and his descendants - not necessarily one particular king.

Its helpful to grab that.  When you see south - think Egypt.  North - think Syria - and points east.  South is who?  Egypt.  North is who?  Syria.  Like the Dodgers and Giants.  South and North.  Let’s Go Egypt!!!  Let’s Go Syria!!!!  Bitter rivals.  Over the years each team is represented by different kings - different players.  Same rivalry.

You’ll also see on your scorecard - next to verse 6 - that Ptolemy II - representing the south - which is where?  Egypt - gave his daughter - Berenice - to Antiochus II - representing the north - where?  Syria - in a political marriage.  At one point there was a peaceful political alliance between the two - which didn’t last long.

After Ptolemy died, Antiochus took back his former wife, Laodiceia - who feared Berenice - so she got her son to murder Berenice.  Which is what these verses are talking about - alliances and daughters and agreements and not retaining strength - power.

Verse 10:  His sons shall wage war and assemble a multitude of great forces, which shall keep coming and overflow and pass through, and again shall carry the war as far as his fortress.  Then the king of the south, moved with rage, shall come out and fight against the king of the north.  And he shall raise a great multitude, but it shall be given into his hand.  And when the multitude is taken away, his heart shall be exalted, and he shall cast down tens of thousands, but he shall not prevail.  For the king of the north shall again raise a multitude, greater than the first.  And after some years he shall come on with a great army and abundant supplies.

You’ll see this on your scorecard.  South verses North.  North verses South.  Huge armies.  Thousands of people dying. 

Verse 14:  In those times many shall rise against the king of the south, and the violent among your own people shall lift themselves up in order to fulfill the vision, but they shall fail.  Then the king of the north shall come and throw up siegeworks and take a well-fortified city.  And the forces of the south shall not stand, or even his best troops, for there shall be no strength to stand.  But he who comes against him shall do as he wills, and none shall stand before him.  And he shall stand in the glorious land - meaning the Promised Land - Israel’s land.

- and he shall stand in the glorious land the glorious land - the Promised Land - with destruction in his hand.  He shall set his face to come with the strength of his whole kingdom, and he shall bring terms of an agreement and perform them.  He shall give him the daughter of women to destroy the kingdom, but it shall not stand or be to his advantage. 

Verse 18:  Afterward he shall turn his face to the coastlands and shall capture many of them, but a commander shall put an end to his insolence.  Indeed, he shall turn his insolence back upon him.  Then he shall turn his face back toward the fortresses of his own land, but he shall stumble and fall, and shall not be found.

Over a period of about 130 years Egypt - king of the where?  South - and Syria - king of the where?  North - go back and forth fighting battles - waves of armies moving back and forth with the Promised Land - Israel -  trapped in between on the invasion route.

Syria comes through and all the tourist stands are selling “I LOVE SYRIA” bumper stickers for their chariots.  Egypt comes through and all the tourist stands have “I LOVE EGYPT” bumper stickers.  Can you imagine this?  “My son conquered Syria and all I got was this lousy “T” shirt.”

Israel becomes the battlefield between these two powerful armies - ransacked - ravaged - decimated.   Jerusalem is captured numerous times by one side or the other.  Slowly Israel is ground down to nothing.

Verse 20:  Then - that’s a summary statement - after all that has happened  to God’s people - discouraged and distracted - who instead of reaching out for God’s blessing chose not to trust Him - after all that has happened - then this happens - verse 20 - Then shall arise in his place one who shall send and exactor of tribute for the glory of the kingdom.  But within a few days he shall be broken, neither in anger nor in battle.  In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given.  He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.  Armies shall be utterly swept away before him and broken, even the prince of the covenant.  And from the time that an alliance is made with him he shall act deceitfully, and he shall become strong with a small people.

Verse 24 - Without warning he shall come into the richest parts of the province, and he shall do what neither his fathers nor his father’s fathers have done, scattering among them plunder, spoil, and goods.  He shall devise plans against strongholds, but only for a time.  And he shall stir up his power and his heart against the king of the south with a great army.  And the king of the south shall wage war with an exceedingly great and mighty army, but he shall not stand, for plots shall be devised against him.  Even those who eat his food shall break him.  His army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down slain.  And as for the two kings, their hearts shall be bent on doing evil.  They shall speak lies at the same table, but to no avail, for the end is yet to be at the time appointed.  And he shall return to his land with great wealth, but his heart shall be set against he holy covenant.  And he shall work his will and return to his own land.

Verse 21 tells us - that after all that has happened to God’s people - then there will come a king “to whom royal majesty has not been given.”  From the north - Syria - the Seleucus line of kings.  Moving through history - when this “then” happens - next in line for the throne after Seleucus IV would have been Demetrius I.  But when Seleucus IV died, Demetrius was being held hostage in Rome - so they gave the throne to his uncle Antiochus IV - Epiphanes.

Do you remember when we last saw Antiochus IV Epiphanes?  Chapter 8 - the little horn - same evil dude.  Described here as a contemptible person - a flattering liar who schemes and plots - who acts deceitfully - who we know from history held on to his throne by buying off or killing anyone who wouldn’t bow down to him.

Verse 29:  At the time appointed he shall return and come into the south, but it shall not be this time as it was before.  For ships of Kittim shall come against him,

Kittim was the name people used for Cyprus - later the lands around the Mediterranean Sea - and eventually Kittim came to mean Rome itself.

Antiochus had invaded Egypt before and was pretty successful - carrying off a ton of wealth.  But this last time - here in verse 29 - Egypt appeals to Rome for help.  The Roman Senate sent a general named Popilius - and a whole Roman legion - which arrived in Roman galleys - referred to here as “Ships of Kittim.”  Popilius surrounded Antiochus and forced him to withdraw from Egypt.

Going on in verse 30:  and - because of the defeat - and he shall be afraid and withdraw, and shall turn back and be enraged and take action against the holy covenant.  He shall turn back and pay attention to those who forsake the holy covenant.  Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering.  And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate.

Antiochus - his ego bruised - defeated by Egypt and Rome - enters Jerusalem - looking for someone to blame - enters Jerusalem with a hatred for God and a hatred for God’s people.  He tries to destroy the scrolls of Scripture.  He butchers God’s people - kills children - crucifies 100,000 people who refused to worship his false gods.  Fries them alive in oil.  Dismembers them.  Laughs at their agony. 

Antiochus defies the high priests - enters the Temple - builds a pagan altar in the Temple and offers a pig as a sacrifice He rips down the curtain to the holy of holies in the Temple - takes the blood from the pig and sprinkles it around the sanctuary - defiling the whole place.  Ends the regular burnt sacrifice with an abomination that makes the Temple desolate - unusable.  Then he erects a statue of Zeus in the Temple and proclaims Zeus to be God and Yahweh to be foolish.

 
Verse 32:  He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.  And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder.  When they stumble, they shall receive a little help.  And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time.

There were a number of Jewish leaders who gave their allegiance to Antiochus - who acted wickedly toward the covenant - covenant meaning what it means to live rightly in relationship with God.  They’d turned their back on God in order to serve Antiochus.

But history records that a rebel group - gorilla warriors - sons of the priest Mattathias led a revolt.  These were the Maccabees.  Jewish patriots who knew God - who displayed strength - who took action - who - verse 33 - gave understanding to the many through a sincere desire to obey God’s law - to live Godly lives - to call their nation back to trusting in God.  Eventually they captured Jerusalem - cleansed the temple - restored the Jewish offerings.   Which they celebrated on the 25th day of Kislev, 164 BC.  Which was… the first Hanukkah.   

Through-out the revolution - verse 34 - they received very little help from their compatriots.  Eventually they were overcome.  They fell by the sword - were led captive - tortured - martyred serving God.

 Notice the last part of verse 35 which is the transition from what has happened to verses 35 to 45 - What Will Happen.  Look again at the end of verse 35:  “until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time.”  Those words “the time of the end” are there to clue us in that all that we’ve seen take place isn’t all that will take place.  The final fulfillment of all this “still awaits the appointed time.”

Prophecy is often like looking over the tops of mountains - Daniel is seeing the peaks of the mountains.  He’s seeing the slope leading up to the peak of the Maccebees.  Beyond is another peak - the end times.  Between the Maccabees and the end time is a valley - what Daniel doesn’t see.  We’re living in the great central valley of Biblical prophecy.  Waiting for what will happen.

Verse 36:  And - at the end time still to come - and the king - the king who appears at the end time - And the king shall do as he wills.  He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods.  He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done.  He shall pay no attention to the gods of his fathers, or to the one beloved by women.  He shall not pay attention to any other god, for he shall magnify himself above all.  He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these.  A god whom his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts.  He shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god.  Those who acknowledge him he shall load with honor.  He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price.

Notice four things about The Coming King.

First:  He blasphemes God.  He says astonishing things against God.  In the original language “astonishing” has the idea of unheard of - extraordinary - even monstrous.  Meaning “who would be so arrogant - so prideful - so full of himself and so in your face against God - that he would ever say such things.”  We’ve seen - in previous chapters - that that’s a characteristic of the coming anti-Christ.  He will so disregard God that he will claim the works of God as his own.  Astonishing.

Second:  He prospers for a time - until “the indignation is accomplished.”  Indignation is another way of saying tribulation - or what we saw in chapter 9 as the 70th week of Daniel - yet to come.  Horrible unprecedented evil stuff.  This king is going to have power like no one has had power before - and he is going to use it against God’s people.

Third:  He has really great toys.  “He shall honor the god of fortresses.”  “Fortresses” is all about military power.  He’s going to have great military power backing him up.  Costly weapons.  All the latest toys. 

Fourth:  He sells peace.  This coming king is going to make an alliance with a foreign god and parcel out land for a price.  Some commentators think that there’s a possibility, indicated here, that somehow he will be able to buy peace between Muslims - and their god - and the Jews - at least for a time.

How popular - how highly regarded on the world stage - would someone be who could seemingly bring about lasting peace in the Middle East?  Imagine someone who controls unprecedented wealth and power, who thinks he’s God - and is revered as god.  What would it be like in those days - as a follower of Jesus - to not bow and worship this coming king?  

Verse 40:  At the time of the end, the king of the south - where?  Egypt - shall attack him, but the king of the north - where?  Syria - shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships.  And he shall come into countries and shall overflow and pass through.  He shall come into the glorious land - the Promised Land - Israel - and tens of thousands shall fall, but these shall be delivered out of his hand:  Edom and Moab and the main part of the Ammonites.  He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape.  He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver, and all the precious things of Egypt, and the Libyans and the Cushites shall follow in his train.  But news from the east and the north shall alarm him, and he shall go out with great fury to destroy and devote many to destruction.  And he shall pitch his palatial tents between the sea and the glorious holy mountain.  Yet he shall come to his end, with none to help him.

The vision goes on into chapter 12 which we’ll get to next week.  But we’re going to stop here.  I promised we’d be done by 3:00. 

Two things we need to notice about The Time of The End.

First:  This is The Final Battle.  Its all here - a good portion of it - the combatants - the movements - even the history leading up to it.  Meaning history is done.  In the midst of suffering with a debilitating ongoing painful disease - how encouraging is it to know that there’s an end.  God tells us He will bring history to an end.

Second:  Israel is at the center.

Which is crucial to understand.  One huge reason why May 14, 1948 is so huge.  Which is?  Israel Statehood.  Biblical prophecy - future history - all ties into Israel being on the land.

2,500 years after Daniel receives this vision Benjamin Netanyahu - the Prime Minister of the sovereign state of Israel - addresses the US Congress - warning us about making a treaty with Iran - Persia - about unprecedented weapons that threaten the survival of Israel.  Imagine Egypt - in the south - and Syria - the north which includes Iraq and Iran - and ISIS - is it hard to the whole world getting sucked into a battle focused on the Glorious Land - Israel.

When it comes to Biblical prophecy - what happens in Washington or Moscow or Pyongyang or Damascus or Cairo or Tehran - no matter what’s going on in world politics always watch how all that effects Israel.  Israel is the epicenter.

Reason being - prophecy is about God and His people.  Prophecy testifies of God.  Prophecy points God’s people to God.  Encouraging God’s people to trust God.

Processing all that… What does all that mean for us as we’re trying to follow Jesus.

5 courage inspiring truths for us to hang on to today.

First:  God’s word is trustworthy.

In all that we’ve been looking at here in what God shared with Daniel about future history up to the “time of the end” part - check your scorecard - it all came true.

500 plus years of future history.  Every king.  Every marriage.  Every alliance.  Every assassination.  Every battle.  Every major movement of armies.  Every prediction fulfilled with 100% accuracy.  That is an overwhelming reality to take in.  A reality that should cement in our minds that God knows what He’s talking about.  He is sovereign.  His word is trustworthy.

Since God’s word is 100% trustworthy in the past - it is 100% trustworthy in the future - even today.

How do we live in this brave new world that’s coming?  If we’re trying to figure that out by our own whit and wisdom we can’t.  The answers are in God’s word.  100% trustworthy.

Second:  This is future history.   

Whether Jesus is coming back 10 years from now or at 3:17 this afternoon only God knows.  We do know that Jesus will come back because God says He will.  There is an end.  And we know that God has given us right now to live for Him.  How are we using our moment in future history?

It is so easy to get wrapped up in politics and issues and to get caught up in things and entertainment and stuff that in and of itself may not be evil.  But, in this moment that God has given us - in this battle that we are a part of - we need to be using what God has given to us for His purposes.

God’s command:  “Go make disciples.  Teach disciples to obey.”  Share the good news of salvation - of hope - of life in Jesus.  Teach people to be followers of Jesus.  That command doesn’t change because our circumstances change.  Its why we’re here.  (Matthew 28:18-20)

Third:  The real battle is spiritual.

How are suppose to fight an unseen enemy?  Bottom line:  We can’t.

In Ephesians 6 Paul writes:  “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God.”  Who’s armor?  God’s.  Spiritual weapons come from God.  Which is a study for another time.  (Ephesians 6:10-20)

The point is that God empowers us for the battle - makes His weapons available to us - even teaches us how to use them - as we seek and surrender ourselves to Him.  And - God does not leave us alone in the battle.  He’s with us.  Jesus said He’d be with us.  The Holy Spirit dwells within us.  Even God’s angels are with us - fighting by our side.

Four:  Eternity is forever.

There is a God appointed end beyond which is eternity - forever without God or forever with God.  When that end comes it won’t matter if we understood all the prophetic imagery or if all the events of future history lined up on our scorecard - if we checked them off as they went by.  What matters is our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  Because if we’re trusting Jesus as our Savior we know that when all this ends we will spend eternity - forever - with God.  In the midst of the increasing evil of this world that is a forever hope to hang on to.

Fifth:  We’ve got each other.

The Church is not an army of one.  We’re an army together serving the One.  No one here should ever have to face the future alone or to go alone into the battle.  Sometimes siblings struggle with siblings.  Families have their stuff.  But we need to cherish and rely on and work hard to strengthen the union we have in Christ.  Unity that is to exalt Christ and His gospel.  God has given us each other because we need each other.  (Ephesians 4:3-6)

In the Lord of the Rings - Frodo the hobbit - this small person entrusted with an impossible task - Frodo distraught and discouraged turns to Gandalf and says, “I wish the Ring had never come to me.  I wish none of this had happened.”

Gandalf replies, “So do all who live to see such times; but that is not for them to decide.  All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”

It is not random chance that each of us is here in this place at this moment in the future history of the battle that wages around us.  This is our God given time with great opportunity.  Our choice is to decide what to do with that time.

_________________________

1. Ray Kurzweil, “The Law of Accelerating Returns” - March 7, 2001:  kurzweilai.net/the-law-or-accelerating-returns. 

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®  (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.