In the book of Daniel, Daniel shared how Gabriel told him, “the robbers of your people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall. So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand. But he that comes against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed. He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him”, and in chapter eleven and verse eighteen of his book Daniel shared how Gabriel said, “after this shall he turn his face unto the isles” where we read,
After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many: but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him.
The verse reads, “After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, and shall take many:” Daniel began with the words, “after this” or “following the time when the daughter does not stand for the king of the north” “shall he turn his face” which means “will he, the king of the north, put, set, appoint and direct the front of his head or countenance” “unto the isles” or “toward the islands”, “and shall take many” which means “and will remove a great number of people”. Daniel shared how the king of the north would direct his attention toward the islands and remove numerous people from them.
The verse continues, “but a prince for his own behalf shall cause the reproach offered by him to cease; without his own reproach he shall cause it to turn upon him.” Daniel added the words, “but a prince” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover a chief, ruler, commander or dictator” “for his own behalf” which means “because, since and on account of his own personal benefit” “shall cause the reproach” or “will cease, desist, exterminate and destroy the scorn, taunting, shame and disgrace” “offered by him to cease” which means “presented and granted through him, the king of the north, to stop, desist and rest”; “without his own reproach” or “his, the king of the north’s, own personal scorn, shame or disgrace” “he shall cause it to turn upon him” which means “he, the king of the north, will make to come back upon him, the king of the north”. Daniel shared how a ruler from the islands would make the king of the north’s efforts to fail, and that which he intended will come back upon himself.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Daniel how the king of the north, Antiochus the Great, will direct his attention toward the islands which were occupied by the Romans. Matthew Henry wrote, “His war with the Romans is here foretold. He shall turn his face to the isles (v. 18), the isles of the Gentiles (Gen. 10:5), Greece and Italy. He took many of the isles about the Hellespont-Rhodes, Samos, Delos, etc., which by war or treaty he made himself master of; but a prince, or state (so some), even the Roman senate, or a leader, even the Roman general, shall return his reproach with which he abused the Romans upon himself, or shall make his shame rest on himself, and without his own shame, or any disgrace to himself, shall pay him again. This was fulfilled when the two Scipios were sent with an army against Antiochus. Hannibal was then with him, and advised him to invade Italy and waste it as he had done; but he did not take his advice; and Scipio joined battle with him, and gave him a total defeat, though Antiochus had 70,000 men and the Romans but 30,000. Thus he caused the reproach offered by him to cease.” God was well aware of these desires and deeds of these rulers, and because they were leading to the birth, death and resurrection of His Son Jesus who was crucified on the cross for the sins of the world, He watched over them and made the provision for all who believe and trust in Him to be forgiven of their sins, granted everlasting life and to receive His Holy Spirit who will continually reassure us that He has nations, rulers and kingdoms all in His control.
Next time Daniel shares how Gabriel told him, “he shall turn his face toward the fort of his own land”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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