Vote King Jesus

In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given. He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. — Daniel 11:21

Remember, the angel Gabriel is explaining to Daniel these future events. He has been detailing a vision Daniel was given way back in chapter 8. And right here, in verses 21-35, we hit the apex of the vision. We will discover who that "little horn" was in the vision. Some of you may remember that strange descriptor from chapter 8:9, which read.

Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land. — Daniel 8:9

So basically, everything Gabriel has told Daniel in the first 20 verses has been a preface to this moment in the text. Because we know that the "little horn" is a man named Antiochus IV Epiphanes of Syria, and this man profoundly affected Israel for years. So now, let me read all of 21-27, and I will fill it in with some color commentary. So if you are reading the devotional today, you may also want to listen.

In his place shall arise a contemptible person to whom royal majesty has not been given. He shall come in without warning and obtain the kingdom by flatteries. Armies shall be utterly swept away before him and broken, even the prince of the covenant. And from the time that an alliance is made with him he shall act deceitfully, and he shall become strong with a small people. Without warning he shall come into the richest parts of the province, and he shall do what neither his fathers nor his fathers' fathers have done, scattering among them plunder, spoil, and goods. He shall devise plans against strongholds, but only for a time. And he shall stir up his power and his heart against the king of the south with a great army. And the king of the south shall wage war with an exceedingly great and mighty army, but he shall not stand, for plots shall be devised against him. Even those who eat his food shall break him. His army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down slain. And as for the two kings, their hearts shall be bent on doing evil. They shall speak lies at the same table, but to no avail, for the end is yet to be at the time appointed. — Daniel 11:22-27

So there is some incredible history here. But remember, it's a prophecy told around the late 530s B.C., and Antiochus IV reigned from 174-154 B.C. So this is a detailed prophecy told 350+ years before the event, in incredible detail.

But for our application. We read here about this "little horn" and all the details of his persecution, plotting, planning, and positioning. Yet we are affirmed in this last verse that "they (these two evil kings of the north and south) shall speak lies at the same table, but to no avail, for the end is yet to be at the time appointed." 

Gabriel is reminding Daniel that all the persecution, plotting, planning, and positioning of evil leaders, in the end, doesn't matter because there is another coming king who will reign supreme. And fellas, Daniel needs to hear that, and so do we. So as we enter an election cycle, don't put your faith in a politician who will only plot, plan, and position for their own selfish wants and desires. Put your trust in King Jesus. Vote Jesus. In the end, he reigns supreme.

ASK THIS: Are you trusting only in King Jesus?

DO THIS: Believe that only Jesus is King.

PRAY THIS: God, thank you for giving us a great and holy king.

PLAY THIS: King Jesus.