Daniel The Man who Feared God 2016

Satanic Sacrilege (28; 30b-32a)

1. 
   What did Antiochus IV Epiphanes do on returning from his first campaign against Egypt? (28)
   
   1. 
      He took out vengeance against the Jews.
      
   2. 
      In this instance (169 BC), he raided the city and Temple treasury—although he did not specifically desecrate the Temple sanctuary—and he slaughtered many Jews (1 Macc 1.20-28).
      

2. 
   What may have been his reason for this action?
   
   1. 
      Some suggest that the reason he did this was because some Jews staged an uprising against his rule.
      
   2. 
      Others suggest that he was disappointed or frustrated with the results of his campaign in Egypt—not having conquered it all. So he lashed out against the most convenient helpless people—the Jews—as he passed through their land on the way back to Syria.
      
   3. 
      Reference is made to his setting his heart against the holy covenant.
      
      1. 
         This means he was antagonistic against the covenantal relationship between God and his people.
         
      2. 
         He also had a strong dislike for the entire Mosaic system (the holy covenant), including the laws of God.
         
   4. 
      It is possible that his reaction against the Jews was not so much because of his disappointment with his efforts in Egypt, but rather the opposite. He was engaged in an orgy of wanton destruction.
      
   5. 
      The Jews stood as a witness against his hedonism and heathenism and he saw their existence, which pointed to God, as a challenge to his authority and ambitions and power and plans.
      

3. 
   What did Antiochus do after returning from his second campaign against Egypt? (30b-32a)
   
   1. 
      Took action against the holy covenant.
      
      1. 
         For a second time he attached the city of Jerusalem, and the Temple.
         
      2. 
         Again, this is stated as being action against the holy covenant.
         
      3. 
         In this instance (167 BC), he sent his general Apollonius with 22,000 soldiers into Jerusalem on a purported peace mission. But the army attacked Jerusalem on the Sabbath; plundered, burned the city, and pulled down many of the buildings; killed thousands; and took many women and children as slaves (1 Macc 1.29–40; 2 Macc 5.23–26).
         
   2. 
      Showed favour to those who forsook the covenant.
      
      1. 
         Some of the Jews allied themselves with Antiochus, because Antiochus offered them a reward if they would reject the worship of God and accept the worship of false gods (1 Macc 1.11–15, 41–43). In particular were:
         
         1. 
            Jason, the brother of Onias the high priest, who bribed Antiochus and established a school in Jerusalem for the training the youth in the practices of the pagans (2 Macc 4.7- 23)
            
         2. 
            Menelaus, who aligned with the interests of Antiochus, and was the man that helped him enter Jerusalem on his return from Egypt
            
   3. 
      Desecrated the Temple.
      
      1. 
         On December 16^th, 167 BC Antiochus desecrated the Temple by dedicating it to the worship of Zeus. He erected an altar to Zeus and, according to history (or legend), had a pig offered on the altar (1 Macc 1.47; 2 Macc 6.1–6).
         
      2. 
         What ‘fortress’ is mentioned along with the Temple?
         
         1. 
            It may refer to the citadel of the old city of Jerusalem around the Temple mount.
            
         2. 
            Alternatively, the Temple may be called a fortress, or refuge.
            
   4. 
      Abolished the daily sacrifice.
      
      1. 
         Antiochus wished to exterminate the true religion and worship. So he forbade the ceremonial practices (including the festivals and circumcision) instituted by Moses, commanded that copies of the Scriptures be burned, replaced true worship with pagan ceremonies, and had the Jews offer a pig on the 25^th of each month (1 Macc 1.41–50).
         
   5. 
      Set up the abomination that makes desolate.
      
      1. 
         There have been a number of different translations offered for the phrase (“that makes [causes] desolate”), from ‘to be/make desolate’ or ‘to be appalled’. Calvin notes ‘astonishment’ as an alternate; suggesting that the astonishment is because God didn’t stop the pagan action.⁵¹¹ The root of the word translated here as ‘desolate’ is translated as ‘desolate’ elsewhere (Gen 47.19), but also as ‘deserted’ (Lev 26.22) and ‘appalled’ (Lev 26.32; Ezra 9.3, 4). When the word is used in Ezra 9.3, 4 it is has an identical from (מְשׁוֹמֵֽם) as here. It may be best to translate the phrase as, ‘appalling idol’.
         
      2. 
         What is the ‘abomination that makes desolate’?
         
         1. 
            The majority of commentators on this passage take the view that it is speaking of Antiochus’ setting up of the altar and statue of Zeus in the Temple (1 Macc 1.54, 59)—i.e., an appalling idol.
            
      3. 
         Where did we encounter a similar concept in Daniel?
         
         1. 
            When we studied 9.27 we considered the phrase, “on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate”.
            
         2. 
            We noted that many apply this to the Roman armies (under Titus) bringing their ensign into the temple, setting up a pagan altar in the temple, or sacrificing a pig in the temple. However, we concluded that this was a reference to the roman armies themselves surrounding the city, per the explanation given by Jesus in Luke 21.20.
            
         3. 
            Daniel (the angel explaining the vision) chose to use similar words when speaking of what Antiochus did. However, Daniel 11.31 is speaking of a different event (carried out by Antiochus) than what is referred to in Daniel 9.27 and 12.11 (the Roman armies under Titus).
            
         4. 
            Thus, so that 11.31 is not confused with 9.27 and 12.11, it is best that we translate the expression here as ‘appalling idol’ rather than the traditional ‘abomination that makes desolate’—particularly since an idol doesn’t cause desolation, but rather desecration.
            
   6. 
      Seduced with flattery.
      
      1. 
         Antiochus used promises (‘flattery’) of payment, rewards, and favour to entice people to support his policy of replacing God’s ordained worship ceremonies with pagan rituals (1 Macc 2.18; 2 Macc 7.24).
         

4. 
   What may have been the reasons he took these actions?
   
   1. 
      Many have suggested that it was out of frustration and bitterness with being sent back by Rome, that he took out his hostility on Jerusalem.
      
   2. 
      However, this cannot be the primary explanation, since he didn’t perpetrate this kind of evil on any of the other provinces within his kingdom.
      
   3. 
      The root cause was his antipathy and hatted of true religion. The Jews who were faithful to God’s Law were a witness to his hedonism and heathenism.
      
   4. 
      He hated the exclusiveness of the Jewish covenant—their claim to be God’s sole people—God’s law, and the true worship of God.
      

5. 
   What are some lessons that we can derive from this section?
   
   1. 
      Provocation – The very existence of Christianity provokes a pernicious reaction from evil men.
      
      1. 
         The heart of man is inclined to wickedness at all times (Gen 6.5). Without the mediating savour of God’s general grace, the world would implode in a self-destructive orgy of violence.
         
      2. 
         Christians and Christianity appear as a roadblock to the natural man’s intent on continually carrying out the wicked intentions and thoughts of his heart.
         
      3. 
         What are the visible aspects of Christianity which inflame the antagonistic passions of all God haters?
         
         1. 
            God’s legal provisions: Man’s demand since his fall into sin, in the Garden of Eden, has been for autonomy. Men wish to be like God and wish to define their own rules. They despise the imposition of God’s law on them, and particularly hate his prescriptions for penal sanctions—e.g., capital punishment for murder.
            
         2. 
            Christ’s claim to uniqueness: The invented religions of men (all religions but Biblical Christianity) espouse human effort as the path to achieve paradise. They cannot tolerate the claim that Christ makes, to be the exclusive means of being reconciled with God (Jn 14.6).
            
         3. 
            The Christian lifestyle: Where God’s law is practiced prosperity follows. It is an inevitable correlation. God’s law instils responsibility and discipline which inevitably lead to material improvements. Man are of two minds on this. They are attracted to the results, but are also jealous of them. It is easier to rob the hard working and disciplined than to live their life. This is one reason why socialism is antithetical to Christianity—it rewards behaviours which are contrary to living responsibly.
            
         4. 
            Envy That which is the hope and joy of the people of God is the envy of their neighbours, and that is the holy covenant. Esau hated Jacob because he had received the blessing. Those that are strangers to the covenant are enemies to it.
            
      4. 
         What are examples of how Christianity, by its existence, provokes God haters today:
         
         1. 
            False religions: The adherents or Islam and Hinduism, in particular, are today focused on the annihilation of Christianity. They see the advance of Christianity as the major threat to their ascendancy. The list of the evils perpetrated by the adherents to these religions against Christians is almost endless, including: outlawing the Bible, bombing churches, killing Christians.
            
         2. 
            False philosophies: Although Materialistic Naturalism (including Evolution and Scientism) is at core a religion, it is also a philosophical system—and the epitome of all human philosophies. Proponents of Materialistic Naturalism are as antagonistic to Christianity as are the world’s false religions. While they espouse rationality and empiricism, they display an extreme irrationality in their denial of, and arguments against, the supernatural, evidence for design in natural systems, and the necessity of first causes. The evils perpetrated by the champions of Materialistic Naturalism include: expelling from academia anyone who posits Intelligent Design or raises questions about the evidence for evolution, and ridiculing anyone who does not accept their unsupported theories such as anthropogenic global warming or speciation by the random addition of increased genetic complexity.
            
         3. 
            Heathenism: Organizations such as the ACLU in the US or HRCs in Canada make it their primary mission to undermine Biblical standards. Their evils include: demanding that Christianity not be permitted to have any influence on public discourse or morality; and supporting any form of deviance from God’s Law such as sexual perversions, homosexual ‘marriage’, and abortion.
            
      5. 
         Because Christ, Christianity, and Christians stand as visible reminders to God and his righteous demands, men strive to supress truth (Rom 1.18) and destroy that which gets in the way of their autonomous, God-hating, lives.
         
   2. 
      Perfidious – Within the covenant community there are always going to be those hare disloyal, false, fickle, and faithless traitors.
      
      1. 
         Jesus teaches that until his return to consummate history, the covenant community is going to include those who are not of the true Israel (Mt 13.24-30, 36-43).
         
      2. 
         True believers cannot fall away. However, there are those in the Church who have feigned faith and will compromise with the purveyors of evil rather than face persecution for the cause of Christ.
         
      3. 
         The fact that there are traitors in the Church should not discourage us. Christ is building his Church is spite of human failings and fallings. He is saving a vast multitude that no man can number, and filling Heaven with those who will sound his praises to eternity.
         
   3. 
      Persecution – Those who espouse Christ will be subject to persecution.
      
      1. 
         One evidence of a professing Church is persecution. Therefore, those who live righteous lives must expect persecution (Mt 5.10-12).
         
      2. 
         Sometimes persecution comes in the form of property confiscation, imprisonment, beatings, and execution. In God’s Providence we are not, at this time, persecuted like the early martyrs, Reformers, Covenanters, Huguenots, and Puritans; or like many Christians today who suffer under Buddhist, Islamic, or Hindu oppression. But we all still must face persecution of one kind or another (Jn 16.33, Acts 14.22; 2 Tim 3.12). Christianity cannot be challenged rationally, so persecution will come in one of two forms—either with farce or force, scoffing or scourging, ridicule or repression—because there are only these two ways that pagans can persecute Christians.
         
      3. 
         The more Christ is displayed in the lives of Christians the more there will be persecution against them.
         
      4. 
         When we suffer because of righteousness we should not be concerned; rather, we should rejoice (Jas 1.2) because this persecution reminds us that we are:
         
         1. 
            Living lives that honour Christ. Only Christians suffer because of righteousness. We must be having an impact on society if people care enough to hate us for the sake of Christ (1 Pet 4.14, 16).
            
         2. 
            Considered worthy to share in Christ’s suffering (Phil 1.29, Acts 5.41) and the suffering of the prophets and apostles. This means that we are not weaklings but champions.
            
         3. 
            On our way to Heaven (2 Cor 4.17, 18). A non-Christian will do all he can not to think of Christ, death, and eternity. But this is not the case for a Christian. The more he knows of Christ, the more he longs for death (not with a death-wish!) so that he can be in eternity with his Lord (Phil 1.23).
            
      5. 
         However, it is not proper for us to provoke unbelievers and to go out of our way to seek persecution or martyrdom. It is permissible, and proper, for Christians to avoid persecution—not by giving up on the Faith and compromising Truth, but by avoiding the persecutors. For example, we are to live humble, peaceful lives which do not cause provocation (Rom 12.18; 1 Thess 4.11-12 ; Heb 12.14). Also, when opposition to Christ and his people becomes severe, we can go elsewhere (Mt 10.14; Lk 9.56).