The Prophecy Project:
Session 16
WELCOME… To session number Sixteen of the prophecy project. Last session I went through Isaiah Chapter 31 and part of Daniel 11. We found that Asshur the Assyrian is killed by a man that is with him in his strong hold, somewhere near Jerusalem. This assassin is not a soldier or a mean man, but was probably an advisor of some type, but Asshur did not see it coming.
We also covered the first portion Daniel chapter 11. Where we learned that there will be four kings in Persia, He attacks into and fights with Egypt and defeats them, he also moves into the Holy Land and is afflicted by the ships of Chittim. These events, timing and sequence are the same as Asshur’s, as found in numbers 24. I explained how Asshur and 4th Persian king are the same man, and that his ethnic back ground is Assyrian but his nationality will be Persian. He comes from a small people, the Assyrians living in northern Iran, the lake Ermia area. The 4th Persian king (Asshur) will also set up the abomination of desolations in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem
For those of you who do not understand the significance of the Abomination of desolation I will cover some references to explain.
Now let’s look into Isaiah chapter 31: this chapter is a continuation of Isaiah chapter 30 which we covered in session 14. In verse 1 God chastises Israel for trying to ally with Egypt to protect themselves from the Assyrian.
(1) Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they (Israel) look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!
(2) Yet he (the Assyrian) also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and (also) against the help (Egypt) of them that work iniquity. (3) Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen (helped) shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.
We will see more information on the destruction of Egypt by the Assyrian later in this session.
(4) For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him (the LORD), he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.
The Lord is not afraid to peep, he is not afraid of Asshur or his armies.
(5) As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also will he deliver it; and passing over he (the LORD) will preserve it.
(6) Turn ye into him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted. (defected from trusting). (7) For in that day every man shall cast away his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which your own hands have made unto you for a sin.
This is the purging of God’s people which must happen before God’s kingdom is established.
(8) Then (at this time) shall the Assyrian fall with the sword, not of a mighty man; and the sword, not of a mean man, shall devour him: but he shall flee from the sword, and his young men shall be discomfited (pay a price). (9) And he (the Assyrian) shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign (God’s ensign), saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace (consuming fire) in Jerusalem.
We now know how the Assyrian dies, he stabbed by someone in his strong hold, someone he does not expect would do it, not a mean man or a soldier. Asshur is afraid that something like this could happen, so he moves to a more secure location. This assassin will be trusted and someone close to Asshur, probably an adviser on some non military type issues.
Now I want to move into the book of Daniel chapters 10 and 11. Which will tie Persia (modern Iran) to Assyria and the Assyrian. Also as has been the case in previous sessions we read the first chapter (10) to set up our understanding of the second. We will start in 10:5
(5) Then I (Daniel) lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: (6) His body also was like the beryl, and his face like as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like the colour of polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
At the sight of this messenger, Daniel basically collapse and is unable to deal with what he was seeing, but the messenger helps Daniel to regain some of his composure and begins to explain why he is come and what his message is about.
(14) Now I am come to make thee (Daniel) understand what shall befall thy people (the Jewish people) in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
It’s important that we remember the central theme in the vision is end time Israel and what is going to happen to them. It is going to seem as we proceed that Persia is the subject but it’s not.
Now we continue to Daniel chapter 11: 2
(2) And now will I show thee the truth. Behold there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia: and the fourth shall be far richer than they all:
Now for the sake of time I want to explain that the rise and fall of each of these kings is explain in this chapter. The first king is seen in verse 3, the second king in verse 7 and the third in verse 20, but the first three kings are not the focus for us today, our interest in the forth king, and his story starts in verse 21.
(21) And in his estate (the third king) shall stand up A vile person, (to be the forth king) to whom they shall not give the honour of the kingdom (Persia): but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
This man is not their first choice to be the next king, he was not shown that honour. But he doesn’t give up, he shows discipline and works peacefully through flatteries to get his way. The term flatteries means to be smooth, a smooth talker. Flatteries are a tool which is used to appeal to someone’s vanity or pride, he appears to good at it. But, don’t forget he actually a vile man.
(22) And (also) with the arms (armies) of a flood shall they (those who make such decisions) be over flown (swept away) from before him, and shall be broken: yea, also the prince of the covenant (Messiah shall be swept away).
This man will have the support of some military forces and has the threat of violence behind his flatteries, give me what I want or else.
(23) And after the league (agreement) made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people (24) he shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers, fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.
This man has a power base of a small people (minority) and he begins to work deceitfully (say one thing but do something else). He quickly becomes wealthy and shares it with the people, he gives them the riches and spoils. This is very shrewd he gets the support of the people by giving them what no one else (the fathers) ever has, he in effect buys the support of the people.
He also forecasts devices, this is to cast spells. He uses this spiritual tool to destroy the strong hold of his enemies. This man has an understanding that all battles are won or lost in the spirit realm. We are also told that his reign is just for a time, then it will end.
Verses 25 thru 30 describe a series of military campaigns involving the fourth king. they are as follows:
(25) and he (vile king) shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the south (Egypt) with a great army; and the king of the south shall be stirred up to battle with a very great and mighty army; but he (the king of the south) shall not stand: for they shall forecast devices against him. (26) yea, they that feed of the portion of his meat shall destroy him, and his army shall overflow (be over flown); and many shall fall down slain. (27) And both these kings’ hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed. (28) Then shall he (the vile king) return to his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits , and return to his land (from Egypt).
(29) At the time appointed he (the vile king) shall return and come towards the south (not to Egypt, but towards the holy land): but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.
This make three trips, one to Egypt, this one towards the south and then the latter of last.
(30) For the ships of Chittim shall come against him (the vile king): therefore he shall be grieved, and return, (he goes home afflicted) and shall have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.
(31) And arms (armies) shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength (the Jewish temple), and take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
This vile king attacks and conquers Jerusalem with his armies at the time of the end, and is afflicted by the ships of Chittim. We also know that Asshur the Assyrian attacks and conquers Jerusalem at the end and also is afflicted by the ships of Chittim.
The fourth Persian king is in fact the Assyrian. How can the Assyrian be Persian? Remember he comes from a small people, today the Assyrians are a minority in Iran (Persia), so he is ethnically Assyrian, but his citizenship is Persian (Iranian). The Assyrians still inhabit the lake Ermia area in the northern part if Iran today. Persians are not a people like Assyrians, but rather you are a Persian because you live in Persia (the perfect land). Today, the Assyrians have a seat in the Iranian parliament dedicated or reserved only for an ethnic Assyrian.
..Stop here..
I need to close this session at this point, but next session I want to finish Daniel 11.
Thank you.