Wednesday, August 19, 2015
TEXT: DANIEL 11:36-45
KEY VERSE: “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” (Daniel 11:36).
The world is relentlessly preparing the stage for the reign of the Antichrist. Socio-economically, politically, technologically and spiritually, something seems to be speeding the actualization of this prophetic event. The vast majority of the world population is ignorant of the significance of these happenings and simply drifts with the tide. But those who understand God’s timetable, as revealed in the Bible, are not surprised at these goings-on.
The book of Daniel, which dates back to about 2,500 years, contains detailed prophecies that outlines God’s timetable for the present world. Its astonishing accurate prediction of successive world empires, the Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Grecian and Roman, has since been fulfilled and become world history. Daniel also prophesied the first coming of Christ (also now history), the manifestation and activities of the Antichrist and the Second Coming of Christ. Today’s text is a prophecy concerning Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a Grecian king whose profile in many ways tally with that of the coming Antichrist.
As predicted by Daniel, Antiochus (215 – 154 B.C.) like the coming Antichrist, was merciless, crafty (usurped power by deceit), extremely proud (because of his conquests), hated and massacred the Jews and profaned God. He was so ambitious as to seek worship. He would compel people to worship his “strange god”. History recorded the fulfillment of the minutest detail of this prophecy and how Antiochus died suddenly at age 52 as prophesied – “he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.”
The only way to escape the tyranny of the Antichrist is to repent of sin, accept Christ as Saviour and Lord and continue in the resultant righteousness from God. That way, you will book a space in the imminent rapture of the saints.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JOB 39 – 42
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Whose coming are you preparing for – Christ or the Antichrist?
