Immerse: Chronicles Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 170
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CHRONICLES
that would reveal the cosmic realities behind their experience and give
them hope in the battle against the rulers of this world.
As the visions themselves depict, the Babylonian Empire fell to the
Persians, who were conquered in turn by the Greeks under Alexander
the Great. The Greek Empire was divided up after Alexander’s death,
and the Seleucids, who ruled one part, eventually carved out an empire of their own that was nearly as large as Alexander’s and included
Judea. After Antiochus IV Epiphanes became emperor, he desecrated
the Temple in Jerusalem and tried to force all the Jews to worship
Greek gods. But under the leadership of the Maccabees, the Jews
fought back. After great suffering and sacrifice and with God’s help,
they temporarily won their freedom.
The stories and visions in the book of Daniel work together to
strengthen God’s people as they struggle to maintain their distinctive
identity as a people loyal to God alone. They reveal that God is truly
working, even when it looks like evil is triumphing. The pride of even
the greatest human rulers is shown to be empty and weak when the
Most High God acts to save his people.
The book of Daniel became one of Israel’s most popular books in
the first century ad, the time of Jesus. God’s people were still suffering
greatly under the oppression of foreign Roman rulers, and they were
longing for the arrival of God’s promised redeemer. Daniel gave them
hope that God would bring a change in the future: “Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be
given to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will last forever,
and all rulers will serve and obey him.”
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