And To The Republic
Series: The Great Fall
As we walk through the Fallen Empires of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream we find that the transition from the middle and thighs of bronze… to legs of iron was not a single decisive conquest.
- In fact, the splitting of the Empire from middle to thighs is significant.
539 BC - The Babylonian Empire fell to Cyrus the Great of the Medo-Persian Empire (definitive head of gold to arms and chest of silver).
- Symbolically significant: these arms then embraced, and to some extent preserved, culture and religious practices for the Jews.
In the first year of Darius the Mede, probably before the lion’s den incident, Daniel stood up to strengthen Darius saying, “And 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.” (Daniel 11:2)
The three kings of Persia were: Cyrus the Great, Cambyses II and Darius the Great.
- The 4th, who reigned at least 30 years after Daniel had died, was Xerxes I.
- Xerxes amassed immense wealth and resources, which he used to fund his massive military campaigns, including his famous but ultimately unsuccessful expedition against Greece. His army, thought victorious, was devastated by the 300 Spartans and their allies under King Leonidas I at Thermopylae.
Daniel, again, proving the omniscience of God.
The Persian Empire lasted 8 more kings (130 years)...
Daniel continued, telling Darius the Mede, “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.” (Daniel 11:3-4)
324 BC - The Persian Empire succumbed to the extraordinary conquests of Alexander the Great and his Macedonian forces (arms and chest of silver giving way to middle and thighs of bronze).
- Also very accurate symbolically as after Alexander's death in 323 BC, the Macedonian Empire quickly fragmented due to internal strife among his generals. A divided Empire. (Like a middle… becoming 2 thighs)
~200 BC - The Roman Republic began to engage in a series of conflicts with the divided remnants of Macedon, further weakening the kingdom. Ultimately, by 146 BC, Macedonia was fully incorporated into the Roman Republic as a province. (Those thighs of bronze… just sort of… becoming… legs of iron).
After prophesying about Alexander the Great, Daniel describes in detail a series of battles and leaders that all came to pass leading up to the Seleucid King Antiochus IV Epiphanes who, Daniel says, is “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.” (Daniel 11:21-22)
Antiochus IV Epiphanes came to power in the Seleucid Empire in 175 BC through deceit and manipulation, rather than inheriting the throne directly and honorably. He is often described as a usurper and is known for his persecution of the Jewish people, attempts to Hellenize Judea, and the desecration of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
“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.” (Daniel 11:31)
This desecration of the Temple, where he erected an altar to Zeus and sacrificed a pig in 167 BC, was part of his broader campaign to impose Hellenistic culture and religion on the Jewish population.
- It did NOT have the desired effect. Instead it sparked a 27 year revolt…
- The Maccabean Revolt was led by Mattathias and his sons, particularly Judah Maccabee, resulting in military victories against the Seleucids.
- In 164 BC, the Temple was rededicated, an event remembered as Hanukkah.
- The successful revolt led to the establishment of the Hasmonean dynasty, which restored Jewish sovereignty in Judea around 140 BC (not peaceful…)
The Abomination
2 days before his death, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3)
In the course of His response, Jesus says something that catches the disciples off guard. He says, “When you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place, [… run! I’m paraphrasing. What he said was…] then
- let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
- Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house,
- and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak.
- And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days!
- Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.” (Matthew 24:15-20)
Understand what Jesus is saying. An Abomination… is something detestable to God. All sin is an abomination but particularly mentioned in the Old Testament are chasing and serving other gods, sexual deviance, and generally… wickedness.
- The way of the wicked is an abomination (Proverbs 15:9)
- The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination (Proverbs 15:26)
- He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination (Proverbs 17:15)
That part they understood. But spoken of by Daniel? That was Antiochus Epiphanes. What Daniel spoke of had already happened… 150 years earlier…
- What was Jesus saying?
Jesus explains, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:21-24)
What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?
- It will be devastating. An Abomination. .
- DON’T believe it when someone says I’m back until after YOU SEE the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel
Daniel closes his book at the end of Chapter 12 writing, “I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”” (Daniel 12:8-13)
Many have under taken the challenge of deciphering this statement. No matter how one tries to fit the data, the Abomination of Antiochus Epiphanes does not fit.
- It would seem Daniel 11 is talking about the Maccabean Revolt 160 years before Jesus. But Daniel 12 is talking about another… more wicked… greater Abomination (if that were possible) at the end… JUST before Jesus returns.
Jesus said, “See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.” (Matthew 24:25-28)
Not Quite Desolate
After Antiochus IV Epiphanes desecrated the temple and the Maccabean Revolt pushed the Seleucid Empire out, creating the Hasmonean Dynasty (140-37 BC), the Hasmoneans established an independent Jewish kingdom. They were self-governed for about 100 years until the Roman intervention led by Pompey.
- But it was not peaceful rule. It was plagued with internal conflicts: Rival factions emerged, including tensions between Hellenizers and traditionalists, leading to political strife.
- In 63 BC, Roman General Pompey intervened in a Hasmonean civil war, ultimately capturing Jerusalem and ending Hasmonean independence.
- Judea became a client state of Rome. Various local leaders were appointed, and the region experienced a mix of autonomy and direct Roman governance.
- King Herod the Great, appointed by the Romans, ruled Judea from 37 BCE until his death after the birth of Jesus.
You see… The Abomination had not brought desolation…
- The Abomination of idols and false gods in the Temple of Jerusalem does lead to desolation… But the faithful were there to stop it. Restore it.
- Perhaps when it happens again… we wont be. (Raptured… Left Behind)
- OR we will be powerless to stop it. (Revelation 13)
And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?” And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. (Revelation 13:4-7)
From the time Antiochus Epiphanes set up the Abomination in the Temple to the day it was rededicated (giving Jews the celebration of Hanukkah) was also about 3.5 years… But we are still here. Revelation speaks of future… AND
- In the days of Jesus… Nebuchadnezzar’s dream statue has not yet crumbled
The prophesy in Daniel actually speaks of 2 Abominations.
- The first was accurately defined in great detail as Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
- The second was described in part by Daniel, and then Ezekiel and then Jesus and then John in Revelation.
The Lesson? The Bible has been fulfilled exactly as it was foretold.
- Jesus… Told us beforehand.
- We have been given MUCH evidence… and MANY proofs to trust it.
An Ironclad Prophesy
As the Roman Republic gained in strength and annexed the Persian empires and the Hasmonean Dynasty, there was no specific battle or ruler that conquered… The Bronze Thighs just… became… iron legs…
It was Julius Caesar who turned the Roman Republic into an Empire.
- He accumulated power, became a dictator, and challenged the republican system. He was assassinated in 44 BC, leading to a power struggle.
- After Caesar’s death, the Second Triumvirate, formed by Octavian, Mark Antony, and Marcus Lepidus to defeat Caesar’s assassins, also broke down.
- The rivalry between Octavian and Mark Antony culminated in the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, where Octavian’s forces defeated Antony and Cleopatra.
- Having bested Mark Antony, Octavian was granted the title ‘Augustus’ by the Senate, marking the formal end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire.
- Augustus maintained the façade of republican governance while holding ultimate power, establishing a new political system known as the Principate.
600 years passed between Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and the birth of Jesus. And everything down to the feet of iron mixed with clay had been fulfilled precisely.
- 600 years… dozens of world leaders… 4 Empires….
- That is a LOT of people, a LOT of free will, a LOT of sin and war and conquest! And God described it in detail before any of it happened!
So when Jesus says, “when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” (Matthew 24:15-16)
- I would suggest you be WATCHING for it!
God called Noah… and the people weren’t listening
God called Moses… and the people grumbled and complained
God sent prophets… and the people weren’t paying attention
God sent them into captivity… and the people quickly forgot Him
God sent Prophesy… and the people weren’t paying attention
God send Jesus… and the people despised and rejected Him
Jesus gave the disciples signs to look for and a Revelation to John for the world
How well do you know about what’s coming?
How EARNESTLY are you watching and waiting for it?
That stone… that was cut out by no human hand… has hit the feet of that statue (we will look at the details of that impact next week… as we continue this series “The Great Fall”
That statue is crumbling even now... God... any time now... ready to blow it away...
How ready are you?
Moses called the Lord “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.” (Deuteronomy 32:4)
Jesus said to the Pharisees, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” (Matthew 21:42-44)
In 70 AD, the Temple was destroyed. The Kingdom of God was taken away from the Jews and given to a people producing its fruits.
- Israel maintained their standing in God’s kingdom through sacrifice.
- Yom Kippur was Saturday. (Friday night…) The Day of Atonement.
- There is no longer any way to Atone…
- There will again be regular burnt offerings before the end.
[Communion]
Song: No Longer Slaves
Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:29-31)
Little children…. Be Ready.