Refiner’s Fire

October 19, 2024

All scholars without exception, liberal and conservative, see verses 21-35 as referring to the evil reign of Antiochus Epiphanes. (Daniel Akin)

Dan 11:21-35 (ESV) 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. [22] Armies shall be utterly swept away before him and broken, even the prince of the covenant. (possible high priest) [23] And from the time that an alliance is made with him he shall act deceitfully, and he shall become strong with a small people. [24] 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. [25] 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. [26] Even those who eat his food shall break him. His army shall be swept away, and many shall fall down slain. [27] 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. [28] And he shall return to his land with great wealth, but his heart shall be set against the holy covenant. And he shall work his will and return to his own land. [29] “At the time appointed he shall return and come into the south, but it shall not be this time as it was before. [30] For ships of Kittim shall come against him, and he shall be afraid and withdraw, and shall turn back and be enraged and take action against the holy covenant. He shall turn back and pay attention to those who forsake the holy covenant. [31] Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. [32] He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. [33] And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. [34] When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, [35] and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time.

Details to consider:

Antiochus Epiphanes was a contemptible person. (21)
He stole the kingdom through deception. It was not his to rule. (21)
He replaced the current high priest (Onias III) with a despicable high priest who betrayed his own people. (Menalus) (22)
He gained strength through the support of Jews who had rejected following the covenant, using deception and bribery. (23-24)
Relatively speaking—his reign was short (175-163). Because the Lord had already determined the duration of his reign. (24)
His heart was bent on doing evil (27)
This passage uses the repeated phrase “at the time appointed” to highlight the sovereignty of God. He determines the times and the seasons. He determines the rule and the reign. He is in charge. Even when, from a human standpoint, the world seems dark and out of control. Rulers make their plans and their schemes, but God’s plans prevail. God sent Antiochus against the King of the South at the time He had determined. (27-29)
Rome would come to the aid of Egypt and send Antiochus back home to Antioch. It is said that the Roman General drew a circle around Antiochus and told him to decide what he was going to do before he stepped foot out of the circle. Antiochus chose to live and he retreated back home. It was during this time that he got word that the Jews celebrated (thinking he had been killed) and this is when he unleashed his fury against the Jews and Jerusalem. (30-31)
All Jewish practices were forbidden on penalty of death: (31)
1. Circumcision
2. Possessing Scriptures
3. Offering sacrifices
4. Observing feast days
The imperial cult was introduced. An altar to Zeus was erected in the temple and on December 25^th, 167 B.C. swine were offered on the altar. (31)
There were those who opposed Antiochus and three years later they defeated him and consecrated the temple on December 25^th 164 B.C.

What is the point of this reminder from Scripture?

Evil may look like it’s winning—but ultimately this dark kingdom has no foundation, and it will fall. Sinclair Ferguson pointed out in his commentary that this section of Scripture “reveals the perennial instability of the kingdoms of this earth. Evil is always unstable because it is rooted in our following our wills instead of God’s will. God’s will alone is stable and enduring; it alone will ultimately come to pass.”
God is always at work, accomplishing his plan. “At the time appointed” enforces this reality. God is at work accomplishing his will. We can know his will. We can trust his will. We can rest in his will.
Suffering for the Kingdom of God will happen.

Rom 8:35-37 (ESV) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? [36] As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” [37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
1Pe 2:19 (ESV) For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
Rom 5:3-5 (ESV) Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, [4] and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, [5] and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

The point of suffering is for our refining, purification, and cleansing.

Refining—refiner’s fire—removing impurity from metal.
Psa 66:10 (ESV) For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried.
Purifying—purging impurity in order to purify.
Make white—again to be made pure, made white. No impurity. All three terms refer to the cleansing work that the Lord does when one so submits himself to the Kingdom of God that he is willing to suffer for the sake of the Lord.
Psa 51:7 (ESV) Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Isa 1:18 (ESV) “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

Life Group Discussion Guide

How does a passage like this give the believer confidence to endure in the face of evil?
How does this passage reveal that evil will fall?
How does the Lord use suffering to refine the life of the believer?
How does the sovereignty of God strengthen the believer when he faces suffering?