AUTOCRATIC FOOLS
“And through his
policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify
himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up
against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.” Daniel 8:25
The vision of Daniel recorded in this chapter came to him in
the third year of Belshazzar. As the explanation of it, given by Gabriel,
shows, it was concerned with the overthrow of the Medo-Persian Empire by that
of the Greeks. It was a remarkably lucid foretelling of all that came to pass,
and especially of the doings of Antiochus Epiphanes. His pride carried him so
far that by his actions he openly
challenged and defied God, as he violated His sanctuary. The title of "Epiphanes" which he assumed
means "Manifest," and the
assumption of that title was in itself a claim of Deity. Thus he stood up
against the Prince of princes. This is the logical issue of autocratic
ambition. It sets itself against all rule and authority other than its own, and
if it be successful over human competitors, it attempts to fling off the final
authority, which is that of God and this it does by claiming Divine power and
authority for itself. This has happened again and again in human affairs; and
it will happen at least once more, in the Man of sin, the Antichrist. But when
it does this, it comes to its doom; it falls upon Rock, and is broken without
hand, that is, not by human intervention, but by the direct act of God.
Antiochus died, not in battle, but by the swift stroke of God taking the form
of mental derangement. Whereas this vision of Daniel had to do primarily with
Greece its principles are of perpetual application, and will have their
complete fulfillment in the final things of this age.
May the rulers in our age be careful not to think too highly
of themselves or their regime.
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