SATURDAY, JUNE 23
Daniel 11:30-35
Mark 13:17-20

“For in those days
shall be affliction ...”

TRIALS FOR A TIME APPOINTED

For all their ingratitude and rebellion, God’s people were destined for bitter trial and testing. While the suffering will be inflicted by the hands of their earthly enemies, behind it all is their real adversary the devil, intent on destroying the nation which brought forth Jesus. Whitcomb comments:

“But even as the final wrath of Satan through his Antichrist will be limited ‘for the elect’s sake’ (Mark 13:20), so now ‘they shall be holpen with a little help’ (11:34). This is clearly a reference to the Maccabean revolt led by the elderly Mattathias and carried on by his son Judas Maccabaeus and other sons, which eventuated in the spectacular cleansing of the Temple in 165 BC.”

“The Maccabean revolt, however, was basically a twofold tragedy. First, it quickly sank into carnality and cruelty. … God ominously predicted that ‘many shall cleave to them (i.e., the early Maccabean leaders) with flatteries’ (11:34). Second, they lack the supernatural presence of the Messiah … to provide the direction and discipline … Thus, the Maccabean revolt, spectacular in its early years for dedication to the God of Israel, even unto death, soon lost those essential qualities and fell into the hands of the Romans by 65 BC.”

“God makes no mistakes with His people. Nothing is left to chance, ‘because it is yet for a time appointed’ (Dan 11:35). And thus the Lord of all history and destiny lifts Daniel’s eyes to see the coming centuries (omitting the age of the church entirely) down to the seventieth week, which is introduced next in terms of the Antichrist and his global dominion. The message of the chapter stands out clearly: history as it moves towards its end can be seen to have no clear meaning. Nor will it ever be seen to have any purpose or meaning till we are able to look back on it from the standpoint of what has happened at its end and climax … Daniel helps us to see the nonsense of trying to have faith unless at the same time we have hope in what is going to be at the time of the end.”

THOUGHT: Live today with the end in view.
PRAYER: (Use Psalm 56:11.)