Light on the Hill

Guest (Male): Coming up today on Light on the Hill.

James Kaddis: It's amazing when you start talking about the word of God, the dead accuracy of God's word, the effectiveness of how it's being communicated, folks, you can leave no other reaction than to be mind boggled by it all. It's literally mind boggling. It's shocking in literally every way. And I I'm here to tell you as your pastor that you can have confidence in God's word. Not only because it's true and accurate, because God never gets it wrong. And if we can trust him to be accurate from all the things he predicted in the past, how much more can we trust him for what he predicts is going to happen in the future.

Guest (Male): When you really stop to think about it, history glorifies God because it shows us that God was completely accurate. He doesn't ever get it wrong. And as we're about to see on Light on the Hill, we have every reason to trust him when he tells us what's in the future. Here's Pastor James Kaddis in Daniel chapter 11 starting at verse 3.

James Kaddis: Verse 3 it says this. It says, and a mighty king shall stand up that shall rule with great dominion and do according to his will. By the way, this is interesting because the one thing that we should probably talk about when it comes to this whole situation is that he was brutal, okay? Alexander the Great was one of these guys that did a lot. He was a guy that was just I mean, he was a force to be reckoned with. And the king, of course, that's being referred to here is none other than Alexander the Great.

By the way, we know this because Alexander the Great is mentioned all over Daniel. He's mentioned indirectly in Daniel chapter 2 right at verse 32. That's when the statue is actually described by Daniel in the dream that Nebuchadnezzar has. Then you see it specifically mentioned in chapter 2 verse 39. You see it later on mentioned in Daniel chapter 7 right around either verse 5 or 6. And then of course, Alexander the Great is also mentioned and is for generals, believe it or not, in Daniel chapter 8. So of course, it goes without saying he was Greek.

He was the one that pretty much put an end to the Medo-Persian Empire. We often times refer to it as the Persian Empire because of all of this. And so it is interesting to look at the story of how the Persian Empire was actually overthrown. It was destroyed in Nineveh right around 331. And so when you think about all of these kings and who they were and where things went, it begins to make a lot of sense. By the way, it's interesting when you start looking at the succession of all of these kings, the reason why we don't think the succession starts at the king that was mentioned by Daniel in this passage is because Daniel is alive during this time.

And Daniel is speaking about this in future. So in essence, that's why we look at the last three kings that we read about in succession of this empire and it fell together perfectly. A lot of people alone would look at this verse and would look at what this verse says and says, no way. This had to be written after the fact. This is already on by any stretch of the imagination to a lot of people something that would just seem to be completely like there's no way. There's no way that this could be the case, right?

So let's look at verse 4. It says this. It says, and when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken and shall be divided toward the four winds of heaven and not to his posterity nor according to his dominion which he ruled, for his kingdom shall be plucked up even for others beside those. So it's interesting because again, he speaks about these four generals that were going to be given the land here. And if you wanted to know who any of them were, first of all, first and foremost, it's tragic when you even talk about these generals because the story of the generals in and of itself is a pretty big tragedy.

But Alexander had two sons, both very young sons, one named Alexander after himself, the other one named Heracles. And they both died at a very very young age. And so they couldn't be given the the kingdom that Alexander the Great was was trying to create. And of course, he had an uncle named Philip that it probably could have gone to. But that uncle also died at a very very young age. So it kind of makes things very tragic. And speaking of tragedy, Alexander the Great dies at the age of 32 in a drunken stupor. He goes and he has a party, okay?

The party is in Babylon, believe it or not, of all places. He he gets into a drunken stupor and pretty much is believed to have died as a result of his alcoholic binge on one very specific night in Babylon. So you just think about like what of like it's tragic. The guy had conquered everything. There was nothing else in the world left to conquer at the time. They had conquered the whole world. He went to his generals and he said, what else is there? And they said, nothing. You have it all. And it was very depressing for him.

It was like, you talk about the guy's life being such such a sad situation, just very very sad. So the four generals that end up taking this over is Cassander which by the way, you're not going to hear much of Cassander because he ruled this area of Macedonia and Greece. And and he becomes very inconsequential over time. And I think that that's very important. And then there was Lysimachus who I I I always butcher that. Trying to pronounce it in English is just a a nasty mess. Who he governed most of Asia Minor. And again, not significant at all.

I mean, you're not talking about much of a game changer there. Then of course, we talk about Seleucus who of course, we talk about the the empire that I had spoken about that dealt with this area that more surround the the rest of Asia except the portion of lower Syria and this little area of Israel that I had talked about. And then of course, you have the story of Ptolemy who of course ruled over Egypt and virtually all of Israel. So he kind of had that that whole area. And so as we get into the next 20 verses, we are going to be dealing about or dealing with the history, the very marked history of the Seleucids and the Ptolemies, okay?

Those two empires fighting it out. And it's very important because it all relates to Israel and it all centers around Israel. And that what's going to be important to Daniel here when he talks about that. So when we read verse 4, it is very clear what ends up happening. And again, verse 4 is a simple repetition of some of the other things that we have read throughout the book of Daniel. And it's not anything that's unusual to us. As a matter of fact, later on in in chapter 11, Daniel's going to get a whole lot more specific to us.

Now, I knew we would probably be at this point right at around only 10 minutes left of the study. So I thought I would share an interesting excerpt that I actually read out of Josephus where he talks about Daniel because this is this is kind of an interesting thing with respect to Alexander the Great. One of the things that puzzled a lot of people about Alexander the Great is why he did not crush or destroy Jerusalem. Why in the world did he preserve it especially considering the fact that Jerusalem was allowed to be repatriated by the king of Persia, okay?

And when it was repatriated, it was regarded by Persia as a protected city. It was not to be touched. It was reverenced. And that was done in the name of the Jews that were so closely tied to the Persians of that time. During the time of Artaxerxes Longimanus, that reputation had been extended even deeper. And then it got even more deeper under Ahasuerus because when Ahasuerus the king the time that we read about during Esther, his closeness to Esther and his proximity to Esther's relatives really truly made the bond between the children of Israel and the Persians very close.

So it's interesting when we talk about Iran being such a danger to Israel today, that is so unusual compared to the scope of all of history in the Middle East. Persia has always been Iran has always been close to Israel. As a matter of fact, up until the time of the Shah's removal or elimination during the time of the Shah, keep in mind Iran was very close to Israel. As a matter of fact, they would vacation in each other's locations. There was free movement that existed between them. Don't get me wrong. The Shah was not necessarily a good guy, but he was a way better guy for Iran than Khomeini ever could have been.

As a matter of fact, a little side note if you're interested in history and you really want to be able to get a really really interesting interview, Pat Pat David just did an interview of the founder of the IRGC. He did that interview. I think it was a 3-hour interview and he did that a few weeks ago. Very interesting. Now, don't get me wrong. The guy is a full-blown hardcore liar, right? Like he he just lies through his teeth. But it is interesting to see or to hear a little bit of his perspective. And speaking of liars, it is also interesting to hear the the Prime Minister of Qatar as he was just interviewed by Tucker Carlson.

I'm actually going to make a video reacting to sections of that because he did a pretty good job of lying as well about some of the I think he's rewriting Middle Eastern history a little bit, especially as it relates to the the Gulf Coast states. It's a whole other whole other whole other story. But it is interesting to think about this because they've always been friends. Persia and Israel have always been friends. And by the way, it's interesting because by the time we get to Ezekiel 38 and we look at the what Ezekiel is predicting in the time that Israel is attacked by all of these countries according to what we read about in Ezekiel 38, it looks like Israel's going to be close to Iran again, okay?

And close to Russia and all of these nations that attack them. So we know we have to be headed towards a time of peace. And it's really interesting because I'm certain people have sat down President Trump and have had a conversation with him that although the Bible does not name President Trump by name, it's very interesting and it should be interesting for people to hear that President Trump is indeed a part of biblical history. That some of the things that he's doing right now in the Middle East may be what God is going to use to set the environment to put into order many of the things that we know will happen in this time.

And it's interesting because every single Middle Eastern leader that I'm hearing speaking including very silently some of the leadership in Iran are all saying that President Trump is the guy that can help them bring a peaceful resolution to where they can at least at the bare minimum live amicably with one another. But it is interesting to see where all of this stuff is going. And that's why I thought it'd be really really cool for me to read this section that Josephus wrote. And I thought it was it was really cool. Let me read this to you because I I do think it is interesting.

The the reading is a little weightier than than what you would expect just simply because keeping in mind the the time period that all of this is being written and then when it was actually translated, it kind of makes a little bit of a difference. But let me read this to you because it is interesting in thinking about this. Okay? So this is about Alexander the Great. And this is in Josephus's writings called the Antiquities of the Jews. And this would be book 6 in chapter 8. So if you want to go look it up, you'll find it in book 6 chapter 8 of Josephus's writing called the the Antiquities of the Jews.

And this is what he says about Alexander. He says, Now Alexander, when he had taken Gaza, made haste to go up to Jerusalem. And Jaddua, the High Priest, when he heard that was in agony and under terror as not knowing how he should meet the Macedonians since the king was displeased at his foregoing disobedience. He therefore ordained that the people should make supplications and should join with him in offering sacrifices to God whom he besought to protect that nation and to deliver them from the perils that were coming upon them whereupon God warned him in a dream which came upon him after he had offered sacrifice that he should take courage and adorn the city and open the gates that the rest appear in white garments, but that he and the priests should meet the king in the habits proper to their order without dread of any ill consequences which the providence of God would prevent.

Upon which when he rose from his sleep, he greatly rejoiced and declared all the warning that he had received from God according to which dream he acted entirely and so waited for the coming of the king. Okay, so I want you to understand what's going on here because this is really important, right? The priest at the time is getting fearful because he knows that Alexander is coming towards Jerusalem. He he knows that Jerusalem will inevitably be destroyed because from what we can tell from the historical account, this priest stood in not direct opposition to Alexander, but he stood in essence in support of all that God had instructed him to do.

This was a very interesting time. Remember, this is time after Esther. This is a time that we're talking about that is after so much of the rocky process that men like Ezra and Nehemiah had gone through to reestablish the city of Jerusalem. And the city of Jerusalem wasn't really all that as glorious as it used to be, but it was enough for them to be able to worship the Lord. It was enough for them to be able to live in the city. They still had the fortification of these walls. And of course, they still had the temple that they were worshiping in.

So he's so scared as into what's going on. He's so nervous about what could potentially happen to the potential repercussions of Alexander the Great coming in and destroying everything that he declared a time for him and the people to be fasting and praying. And in the time of fasting and praying, the priest in essence gets a vision or a or a dream where the Lord just basically says, open up the doors and welcome them in. Okay? What he doesn't know by the way is that Alexander had a vision of this priest because God gave him a vision.

And and and this kind of plays into something very consequential and something very important here. So let's continue on with the reading. I think it's really really fascinating. Again, all tied to Daniel and all tied to the accuracy of Daniel. And I'm reading this for one very specific reason. It's it's important to understand this, okay? So look at this. Well, by the way, before I read on, I do want to point this out. Nobody debates the accuracy of the historical accounts of Josephus. Nobody does. They all deem the historical account of Josephus to be accurate and real.

Just just want everybody to understand that, okay? So look what it goes on to say. And when he understood that he was not far from the city, he went out in procession with the priests and the multitude of the citizens. The procession was venerable and the manner of it different from that of other nations. The approaching army thought they should have liberty to plunder the city and torment the High Priest to death which the king's displeasure fairly promised them the very reverse of it happened. For Alexander, when he saw the multitude at a distance in white garments while the priest stood clothed with fine linen and the High Priest in purple and scarlet clothing with what's on his head, on his head having the golden plate on which the name of God was engraved, he approached by himself and adored that name and first saluted the High Priest.

This is Alexander himself doing this. Okay? It's very interesting. So they're they're they're colliding. And this is the point where even the army themselves are thinking they're just going to destroy all these people and take take what's in front of them as they're going towards the city. Pretty amazing when you think about it, right? So the Jews also did all together with one voice salute Alexander and encompass him about whereupon the kings of Syria and the rest were surprised at what Alexander had done and and supposed him disordered in his mind. However, Parmenion alone went up to him and asked of him how it came to pass that when all the others adored him, he should adore the High Priest of the Jews to whom he replied, I did not adore him, but that God who hath honored him with that High Priesthood, for I saw this very person in a dream in this very habit.

And when I was at Dion in Macedonia, who when I was considering with myself how I might obtain the dominion of Asia, exhorted me to make no delay, but boldly pass over the sea thither. For that he would conduct my army and would give me the dominion over the Persians whence it is that having seen no other in that habit and now seeing this person in it and remaining that vision and the exhortation which I had in my dream, I believe that I bring this army under the divine conduct and shall there with conquer Darius and destroy the power of the Persians.

And all things will succeed according to what is in my own mind. Okay. Like you guys understand that what Alexander is basically saying is that he is recognizing God's divine call upon the priest without anybody having to declare what God's divine call was because he's saying when he was considering going and destroying the Persians that he felt like God in a vision through this priest in essence who he had never seen before in his life in a vision told him, you can go ahead and destroy the Persians. Don't worry about it. I will be with you when uh when in essence that happens.

Alexander is a pagan. Like you guys get that right? I mean, it's it's just very interesting. Well, this is where it gets even more interesting. Look at look at the providence in this. This is this is like this is so incredible. And And I'm going to just say this right now. I read stuff like this all day every day. Anytime like I'm doing studying in preparation for any of these types of passages, I do this all day. But I was so moved by this. And I know that I had read it before because I've read through the Antiquities of the Jews.

Don't get me wrong. I just don't ever remember this. So I was moved by it when I read it for the first time several years ago and I'll never forget it because there's so much there's so much to this that's powerful. Listen to this last paragraph. Listen to this. And when he had said to this Parmenion and had given the High Priest his right hand, the priest ran along by him and he came into the city. And when he went up into the temple, he offered sacrifice to God according to the High Priest direction and magnificently treated both the High Priest and the priests.

And when the book of Daniel Okay, listen to this. And when the book of Daniel was showed him wherein Daniel declared that one of the Greeks should destroy the empire of the Persians, he supposed that himself was the person intended. And as he was then glad he dismissed the multitude for the present, but then the next day he called them to him and bade them ask what favors they pleased of him whereupon the High Priest desired that they might enjoy the laws of their forefathers and might pay no tribute on the seventh year. He granted all they desired.

And when they entreated him that he would permit the Jews in Babylon and Media to enjoy their own laws also, he willingly promised to do hereafter what they desired. Okay, like do you understand how crazy that is? What Josephus is telling us is that when Alexander goes into destroy Jerusalem, the Lord told the priests to direct everybody to stand there not as a group of people seeking to defend their city, but to stand there as a group of people rejoicing that Alexander had come to the city. When the soldiers that were with Alexander basically said this would be like taking cake from a like taking candy from a baby, Alexander was so enthralled by what he was watching that he saw the divine providence upon the city knowing that God had spoken to him in a vision and he said, don't touch these people.

He sits down and he has a conversation with the High Priest so emotionally overwhelmed by the conversation that he has that he gives himself a day to gather his thoughts. Like he's so blown away that he goes back to the priest and he says, whatever he wants, just whatever whatever favor he wants. And the priest says this. The priest said, let us worship our Lord in essence the way he calls us to. And we don't even mind paying taxes to you, but please don't allow us to have to pay tax on the seventh year. Why?

Because of course, they want to give the land the rest. That's the he in other words, they want to they want to be able to follow the year of the Shabbat. And of course, if you're going to do that, then you'll have no money to give anybody on the seventh year. And it's just it it's just so interesting. So So think about this. If you're now a critic and you're saying there's no way in the world that Daniel wrote this prior to the time of Alexander, as a matter of fact, this was a different Daniel that wrote this in the time of Christ, you're nuts because we actually don't we not only have textual manuscript evidence that allows us to date Daniel prior to the time of Alexander and prior to the time of the destruction of the Persian Empire, we also now have historical accounts that are extra biblical that tell us the story of Daniel being presented to Alexander where Daniel prophesies concerning him.

Like is does that just mind boggling to you guys? So when you have people come and tell you that Daniel chapter 11 is like, no, that was written too late. Sorry, it wasn't. It's amazing when you start talking about the word of God, the dead accuracy of God's word, the effectiveness of how it's being communicated, folks, you can leave no other reaction than to be mind boggled by it all. It's literally mind boggling. It's shocking in literally every way. And I I'm here to tell you as your pastor that you can have confidence in God's word.

Not only because it's true and accurate, because God never gets it wrong. And if we can trust him to be accurate from all the things he predicted in the past, how much more can we trust him for what he predicts is going to happen in the future.

Guest (Male): Thanks for joining us today for Light on the Hill. We're in the middle of a study in the book of Daniel. Pastor James Kaddis will be right back. If you joined us late or you just want to hear this again or even share this with someone you know, visit lightonthehillradio.com or oneplace.com. You'll also find us on most podcast platforms. Light on the Hill is listener supported. Simply put, it's the generosity of our listeners that really helps us remain on stations like this one across the country. You can give through the website at lightonthehillradio.com or through our Light on the Hill app.

As this study in Daniel continues, you may have a question or two about the end times. Perhaps you're in need of prayer or have a comment you'd like to share with Pastor James. There's a place to contact us at our website lightonthehillradio.com. Here's what's ahead of us as our study of Daniel chapter 11 continues.

James Kaddis: Wait until we go over the next 20 verses next week. I don't know it'll be 20 but we might we might be. I don't know. Maybe a little bit less than that. But look at what he says actually happens. I mean, from the love triangles to the to just some of the crazy movements, militaristically speaking, to how each of these empires ended up falling, it's so strikingly unbelievable in terms of the accuracy. It's mind boggling. And when we get into it, it's it's just I'm telling you this right now, it's going to be nothing short of just breathtaking if you've never studied it before.

So get ready. It's good stuff. This has been good stuff. This is this is really good insight. And I don't want you to lose sight of what God is seeking to do every time we open up his word. And that's to to show us that we can trust him. Amen.

Guest (Male): Yes, there is good reason to trust the Lord and his word. Come back next week when we'll continue in Daniel chapter 11 with Pastor James Kaddis. Light on the Hill is brought to you by Calvary Chapel Signal Hill.