Daniel 11:29

Daniel 11:29 says, At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.  Having been successful before, Antiochus would again go to war with Egypt, but Ptolemaeus Philometer will have aligned himself with the Romans, so Antiochus would not succeed.  When Daniel made this prophecy, these kings would not come to power for years.  Daniel did not give their names, and I refer to Matthew Henry to provide them.  What we must understand is that we look back on what Daniel looked ahead to.  God's prophecy through Daniel was fulfilled in this part.  Verse thirty adds, For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.  Being defeated, Antiochus will return home and begin to take out his anger against the holy covenant, or God's people.  Verse thirty-one continues, And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.  Antiochus would take away daily sacrifices to God, or worship experiences, and would pollute the sanctuary of God.  In much of the world today, it is illegal to worship God, and some of these places are very powerful nations.  What we need to remember is that their power and their days are limited.  Verse thirty-two states, And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.  Even as Antiochus is at war against God and His people, the people that know God will remain strong.  I believe this is where those who are God's people in name only are separated from those who truly follow Him.  If we are in a position of having to follow the dictates of the world or the commandments of God, we need to pray for the strength to follow God.  Verse thirty-three adds, And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.  There will be God's people who attempt to teach others about God, but they will be persecuted, even tortured and killed, for their efforts.  We can never allow fear to stop us from witnessing for God.  Verse thirty-four continues, Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.  When God's people seemed to be successful, there would be those who came to them flattering them, but they would not truly believe in God.  There will always be those who will speak highly of Christians if they think it will benefit them, but they will soon abandon them if hardships come.  Verse thirty-five says, And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.  Daniel was told that some of God's people would fall to try them and to purge those that professed to believe in God from those who really did.  It is easy to say we follow God when it doesn't cost us anything or even benefit us in some way.  Verse thirty-six adds, And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.  Matthew Henry states that many see this as a beginning reference to the anti-Christ, with Antiochus being the prototype.  While God's people were suffering, the king would exalt himself and speak boldly against God.  This continues even today.  There are even those within countries that profess to believe in God that speak boldly against God and still prosper.  What we must remember is that our relationship with God is not just about life here, but about the everlasting relationship with God.  Verse thirty-seven continues, Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.  This king would worship himself above all else.  I guess we could say that he was a real ego maniac.