MONDAY, JUNE 18
Daniel 11:2
Isaiah 46:9-10

“… I am God, and
there is none like me.”

THE KINGS OF PERSIA

“And now will I shew thee the truth …” (Dan 11:2). What truth? Modern scholars and theologians of the liberal school deny the truth of these prophetic passages. With unbelieving hearts and higher critical attitude they have written off those parts of God’s Word which their unregenerate minds cannot harmonize with natural and rationalistic thinking.

But our God declares “the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done …” (Isa 46:10). Is anything too hard for the Lord? To Daniel and future readers of his book, God made the statement quoted above in order to emphasize the divine infallibility of the amazing predictions about to be given. “It is true! Doubt not!”

Who were the four kings who followed Cyrus? History has records of them: (a) Cambyses, 530-522 BC, (b) Smerdis, 522 BC, (c) Darius Hystaspes, 521-486 BC, (d) Xerxes, 486-465 BC.

The fourth is singled out for special mention as the one “far richer than they all,” who would stir up the whole empire against Greece. The accuracy of this prophecy is seen in the record of the Greek historian Herodotus, describing the elaborate plans of Xerxes involving the noblest Persians in the land scheming together for six months before a great expedition of conquest was launched against Greece. The avowed intent was to avenge the humiliating defeat suffered by his father Darius I at the battle of Marathon (490 BC).

Xerxes then mounted a great operation against Greece (481-479 BC) with a vast army estimated at 200,000, and a navy of hundreds of ships. Despite all his planning and greater preparedness, the forces of Xerxes were decisively crushed: the army at the battle of Plataea (479 BC) and his navy at Salamis. But behind the scene was the hand of the Almighty!

THOUGHT: What is the purpose of prophecy?
PRAYER: Lord, grant me a believing heart and a discerning mind.