Faithful Stand

Daniel 11:33-35 Those who are wise will instruct many, though for a time they will fall by the sword or be burned or captured or plundered. 34 When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. 35 Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time.”
 
OUR prior lesson spoke of Antiochus IV’s desecration of the temple and prohibiting the Jews’ to worship. But God used this time to form a faithful remnant to develop a stronger commitment to Him. This vision’s fulfillment is well described in the Bible Knowledge Commentary/Old Testament Copyright © 1983.
    “The Jews who refused to submit to Antiochus’ false religious system were persecuted and martyred for their faith. The word “fall” in verse 33-34 refers to severe suffering for many and death for others. This prophesies the rise of the Maccabean revolt. Mattathias, a priest, was the father of five sons. In 166 B.C., Mattathias refused to submit to this false religious system. He and his sons fled from Jerusalem to the mountains and began the Maccabean revolt.
    “At first only a few Jews joined them. But as their movement became popular, many joined them, some out of sincere motives and some from false motives. The suffering that the faithful endured served to refine and purify them. This time of persecution was of short duration (for a time). It had previously been revealed in Daniel 8:14 that the temple would be desecrated for 1,150 days. Here Daniel was assured that this persecution would run its course until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time and then be lifted.” In other words, God would end it when the numbered days passed.
    Mountains are often an image of spiritual and of physical protection. The mountains around Jerusalem were a refuge for David as Saul persecuted him. They became a safe home for the Essenes, who preserved Scripture against the Roman occupation. The mountains gave refuge to faithful Christians who obeyed Jesus’ warning regarding Rome’s destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
    God’s Word declares the same for his church today. He prophesies of danger and persecution to prepare us. Let us stand firm and find refuge in the one who reigns from His holy mountain.  
 
Matthew 24:13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. 15 So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel (Rome would also desolate the temple in 70 A.D.) – let the reader understand - 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.