Daniel Chapter 11 Vs. 18

 The Kings of the South and the North

Daniel 11:18 "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."

After this shall... After making peace with Egypt, Antiochus the Great prepared a great fleet of ships, subdued most of the maritime places on the coast of the Mediterranean and took many islands, including Rhodes, Samos, Colophon, and others.

but a prince... This refers to the Roman consul who defeated Antiochus, causing him to withdraw from Greece to Asia. The Romans then defeated him in Asia Minor, compelling him to abandon all the country north of the Taurus. Thus the reproach Antiochus planned to cause Rome to suffer was turned upon himself.

As we see above Antiochus tried to take advantage of the defeat of Phillip of Macedon by the Romans, and he took the islands of the archipelago. He had set his sights to conquer Greece, along the Mediterranean coastlands. But this brought him into conflict with Rome, so that a Roman, Lucius Scipio Asiaticus, repaid the Syrian aggression against Roman rights in the area with a resounding defeat.





Antiochus III then turned his attention to Asia Minor in 197 b.c. and Greece in 192. However, Antiochus did not succeed because Cornelius Scipio (a commander) was dispatched from Rome to turn Antiochus back.

Romans Chapter 8 Vs. 30

 

Future Glory

Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Rom 8:30

whom he did... God has foreordained, determined, and predestined that all people be called to salvation, but that only the ones who accept become genuine called ones to be justified and glorified. None are glorified, but those who, according to His purpose, meet the terms of the gospel. Who they will be is left up to the individual (John 3:16; 1Tim. 2:4; 2Pet. 3:9; Rev. 22:17; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 3:19). All things depend upon meeting the conditions of the gospel (Rom. 8:1-13, 8:28).

In 2Tim. 1:9 we read:

2Tim. 1:9 “Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”

whom he called... The calling (of 8:28), is pre-temporal; it occurred before the creation of the world (Eph. 1:4). The calling here is temporal and refers to the effectual communication of the gospel, resulting in salvation.

he also justified... indicates being declared righteous. It signifies the believer’s judicial standing before God. There is no just cause in man to warrant justification. This unmerited favor is bestowed through the redemption paid by Jesus Christ on the cross. The redeemed sinner is released on the basis of the ransom’s having been paid.

he also glorified... Glorification is God’s doing. While God’s foreknowledge and predestination take place in eternity, and while God’s calling and justification are realized in history, God’s glorifying is yet future. It is as certain, however, as the previous works. Hence glorified is in the past tense. From God’s point of view it is already accomplished.

The plan was set at the foundation of the world. Man could not be saved by his own deeds, he must have a Savior. That Savior we must have is Jesus Christ our Lord. We do know that God’s call for many of His ministers was a call before they were even born, like John the Baptist.

John the Baptist’s entire life (even before birth), was planned of God. Read the account of John the Baptist’s birth (in Luke chapter 1). This does not mean that John had no Choice. He could have refused, but he didn’t. God knew he would carry out God’s purpose in his life. Obedience to God’s will in our life will bring peace in our life too.

Most people today take their call to serve God far too lightly. It is serious business to answer God’s call and serve God. We must first be able to say “not my will be done, but thine O Lord” and then say, “Here am I Lord, send me”.

The entire group that is brought into relationship with God in His eternal plan by divine foreknowledge and choice is predestined (proōrisen, “predetermined”; cf. Eph. 1:5, 1:11). God determined beforehand the believers’ destiny, namely, conformity to the image of Jesus Christ. By all saints being made like Christ (ultimate and complete sanctification), Christ will be exalted as the Firstborn among many brothers. The resurrected and glorified Lord Jesus Christ will become the Head of a new race of humanity purified from all contact with sin and prepared to live eternally in His presence (cf. 1Cor. 15:42-49). As the “Firstborn” He is in the highest position among others (cf. Col. 1:18).

Between the start and finish of God’s plan are three steps: being called (cf. Rom. 1:6; 8:28), being justified (cf. Rom. 3:24, 3:28; 4:2; 5:1, 5:9), and being glorified (cf. Rom. 8:17; Col. 1:27; 3:4), and in the process not a single person is lost. God completes His plan without slippage. “Glorified” is in the past tense because this final step is so certain that in God’s eyes it is as good as done. To be glorified is another way of saying that God’s children will be “conformed” to His Son; and that is God’s ultimate “purpose.” No longer will they “fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).

Daniel Chapter 11 Vs. 17

 The Kings of the South and the North

Daniel 11:17 "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."

He shall also... Antiochus the Great had purposed to march into Egypt, but chose instead to make a covenant of peace with Ptolemy, giving him his own daughter, Cleopatra.

and upright ones... Antiochus the Great acted as if being influenced by nothing but upright views in his covenant with Ptolemy.

the daughter of... This term denotes the beauty of Cleopatra.

but she shall... Antiochus planned to corrupt Cleopatra causing her to be a snare to Ptolemy, but instead she helped her husband and put him on guard against her father.

Antiochus gathered all his forces together for the conquest of Egypt. When he realized the power of Rome, he tried to make a treaty with Ptolemy. He gave Cleopatra to him to wife, to help in the treaty. He thought she would act as a spy for him in the kingdom, but this did not happen.

Cleopatra was true to her husband, instead of spying for her father. She, along with her husband, even sent congratulations to Rome, when they overthrew her father's army.





Antiochus sought to bring peace between Egypt and Syria by giving his daughter to marry Ptolemy V Epiphanes of Egypt. But this attempt to bring a peaceful alliance between the two nations did not succeed (Dan. 11:17).

Romans Chapter 8 Vs. 29

 

Future Glory

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Rom 8:29

he did foreknow... Greek: proginosko, to know beforehand. Knew before (2Pet. 3:17); foreknew (Rom. 8:29; 11:2); foreordain (1Pet. 1:20; Rom. 11:1); and know (Acts 26:5). See prognosis, foreknowledge (Acts 2:23; 1Pet. 1:2). Foreknow is God’s determination from eternity to bring certain ones into a special relationship with Himself. This is not simple advance knowledge. This knowledge should also not be understood in the sense of “being acquainted with,” but in the sense of “bringing into a special relation with”. Foreknowledge is God’s determination from eternity to bring certain ones into a special relationship with Himself.

also did predestinate... Greek: proorizo, foreordain. Determine before (Acts 4:28); ordain (1Cor. 2:7); and predestinate (Rom. 8:29-30; Eph. 1:5, 1:11). It is God’s plan that He has foreknown and predestined, not the individual conformity of free wills to the plan. He has called all people and all are free to accept or reject the call (John 3:16; 1Tim. 2:4; 2Pet. 3:9; Rev. 22:17). All who do accept, He has foreknown and predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son that His Son might be the firstborn among many brethren (Rom. 8:29). Predestinate literally means “to mark off or choose before.” God chooses those He knows will participate in His plan of salvation and extends it to all who respond in faith. The doctrine of predestination in Scripture relates to the foreknowledge of God.

Eph. 1:5: “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will”.

Predestination is especially noticeable in the conversion of the apostle Paul. Since he was a blasphemer and persecutor of the church, some Christians had a difficult time believing Paul could be saved even after he so testified. Still, knowing what was ahead and how Paul would respond, God chose him as Apostle to the Gentiles.

When we understand that God has chosen and predestined us, we should also realize we have been ordained to good works, to bear fruit and to become like Jesus.

Those who reject the plan, He has foreknown and predestined to be consigned to eternal hell as an everlasting monument of His wrath on rebels (Isa. 66:22-24; Rev. 14:9-11; Mat. 25:41, 25:46). This is the sum of foreknowledge and predestination.

to be conformed... Greek: summorphos. Only here and in Phlp. 3:21 where the resurrected body will be made like His glorious body. This is what God has foreknown and predestined for all who conform to the gospel.

be the firstborn... Greek: prototokos, (see, Luke 8:19; see, Col. 1:15).

We see from this scripture, that this predestination did not overrule our will. What this is really saying, is that God knew from even before you were born, how you would choose. God has foreknowledge of all happenings, not only in my life and yours, but he knows everything from the beginning of time to the end of time.

This is because of His foreknowledge. It is predestined, because He foreknew your decision. Jesus’ crucifixion was planned from the foundation of the earth. Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus paid for you and me to be adopted into the family with His precious blood at Calvary. We are part of the family of God, because our elder brother (God’s only begotten Son), purchased our right to be called God’s sons.

These verses give Paul’s explanation of what it means to be one who has “been called according to His purpose” and why God keeps on working all their experiences together to their benefit (Rom. 8:28). Believers are those God foreknew. This does not mean simply that God foreknows what believers will do, but that God foreknows them. Nor does divine foreknowledge merely mean an awareness of or acquaintance with an individual. Instead it means a meaningful relationship with a person based on God’s choice (cf. Jer. 1:4-5; Amos 3:2) in eternity before Creation. “He chose us in Him before the Creation of the world” (Eph. 1:4).

This eternal choice and foreknowledge involves more than establishing a relationship between God and believers. It also involves the goal or end of that relationship: Those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son (cf. 1Jhn. 3:2).

Daniel Chapter 11 Vs. 16

 The Kings of the South and the North

Daniel 11:16 "But he that cometh 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 that cometh... This refers to Antiochus the Great coming against Ptolemy and doing as he pleased in his conquests. This speaks of Antiochus III the Great who took lasting dominion over Israel.

he shall stand... Antiochus the Great was helped by the Jews who supplied him with provisions and assisted him in reducing the garrison of Scopas in the citadel at Jerusalem. Antiochus showed the Jews great favor at this time, bringing back the dispersed and freeing the priests from all tribute.

The glorious land is speaking of the land of Israel.

which by his... Israel was greatly reduced to poverty through the long wars.

The land of Israel is consumed, as well as Egypt being attacked.




Antiochus then sought to consolidate control over Israel from which he had expelled the Egyptians. The fortified city seems to refer to Sidon which Antiochus captured in 203 b.c. Antiochus III continued his occupation and by 199 had established himself in the Beautiful Land (cf. Dan. 8:9; 11:41).

Romans Chapter 8 Vs. 28

 

Future Glory

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Rom 8:28

work together for... Greek: sunergeo. Here; Mark 16:20; 1Cor. 16:16; 2Cor. 6:1; Jas. 2:22. While all things are working, God’s providence is working in behalf of them who love God and who walk obediently according to His purpose.

This is another Scripture that is many times misunderstood, because most people stop reading when it says “to them that love God”. It truly says much more than that though. Are we fulfilling God’s purpose in our lives? If you are, then all things work together for good to you. The key is “them that are called according to His purpose”.

People in all types of ministry forget that God has called them to a particular ministry, and they hurry to get into something of their own choosing. The ministry that God will bless you in is the one He called you to. Sometimes we do not realize exactly what God would have us to do. If we would get alone with God and pray and ask Him, He will reveal unto us what He would have us to do.

“To them that love God”, is the human perspective. God is working all things together for good, but those who love God are best able to appreciate that fact because they love Him no matter what. “To them who are the called” is the divine perspective. Scripture often refers to believers as “the called” or “the elect”.

Certainty of sanctification

This section on the doctrine of a believer’s sanctification (Rom. 8:28-39) logically follows the discussion of its goal or end (Rom. 8:18-27). To discuss the goal of sanctification — a believer’s hope, which he awaits eagerly and steadfastly — is pointless unless realizing that goal is certain. God provided that certainty and confirms the believer’s hope, since sanctification from its beginning in regeneration to its completion in glorification is ultimately God’s work, which believers appropriate by faith (cf. Phlp. 1:6).

Believers, Paul began, know of sanctification’s certainty, and that knowledge is gained by spiritual perception. Christians know intuitively (oidamen) — though they may not always fully understand and sense it experientially — that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him (lit., “to the ones who love God He works all things together unto good”). The things themselves may not be good, but God harmonizes them together for believers’ ultimate good, because His goal is to bring them to perfection in His presence (cf. Eph. 1:4; 5:27; Col. 1:22; Jude 1:24). Even adversities and afflictions contribute to that end. The active voice present tense of the verb synergei (“He works together”) emphasizes that this is a continuing activity of God. And His working is on behalf of “those who love Him,” who are further identified as the ones who have been called according to His purpose. It is significant that a believer’s love for God follows God’s calling of him and is undoubtedly the product of the indwelling Holy Spirit (cf. Rom. 5:5; 1Jhn. 4:19). The word for “purpose” is prothesin, God’s plan (Paul used the same word in Rom. 9:11; Eph. 1:11; 3:11). “Called” means more than being invited to receive Christ; it means to be summoned to and given salvation (cf. Rom. 1:6; 8:30).

Daniel Chapter 11 Vs. 15

 The Kings of the South and the North

Daniel 11:15 "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."




king of the... This refers to Antiochus the Great coming to recover Judea. He defeated Scopas, taking several fenced cities; none of the Egyptian generals were able to oppose him (Dan. 11:15-16).

and cast up... As we read in Ezekiel, a mount is a mountain of dirt ect. Which is built up and pushed up against the walls, thus allowing soldiers to breach the top by simply walking up the mount and onto the top.

neither his chosen... Syria was not Egypt’s only enemy, for Philip V of Macedonia joined with Antiochus III against Egypt. Many Jews (your own people, i.e., Daniel’s people, the Jews; cf. “your people” in Dan. 9:24; 10:14) also joined Antiochus against Egypt. Perhaps the Jews hoped to gain independence from both Egypt and Syria by joining the conflict, but their hopes were not realized.

strength to withstand... It appears from this they come against Israel, as well as against Egypt. Egypt nor Israel will be able to withstand.





Antiochus then sought to consolidate control over Israel from which he had expelled the Egyptians. The fortified city seems to refer to Sidon which Antiochus captured in 203 b.c.